VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Phnom Penh organized the return of 28 Indonesians who reportedly fell victim to human trafficking (TPPO) from Cambodia.

The 28 Indonesian citizens arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 4:20 p.m. local time on Wednesday (October 4, 2023). They were accompanied by embassy staff from Phnom Penh.

"They have conducted an examination by local authorities with a result that indicates that they are TPPO victims," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Earlier, 27 of the 28 Indonesians were indicated to have been exploited by online scammers in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia.

Through intensive coordination between KBRI Phnom Penh and the Cambodian Police, the Indonesians were picked up from a lodging in Poipet on June 28 and transferred to the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Office, Phnom Penh Central Police, for a follow-up examination.

Then, on July 14, the 27 Indonesians were relocated to a temporary shelter managed by an organization called Caritas.

On September 5, the Cambodian Police rescued one more Indonesian citizen who previously worked for the same company as the other 27 nationals, but had been shifted to another online company in the same province.

The person was then transferred to Phnom Penh and placed in the Caritas shelter till the repatriation formalities of all the Indonesian nationals could be completed.

During their stay at the Caritas shelter, KBRI Phnom Penh provided them with logistical and medicinal aid and financed the hospital costs of three Indonesians. KBRI Phnom Penh provided a translator during their interviews with the Cambodian Police as well as the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation.

Thereafter, the Cambodian ministry sent a letter to KBRI Phnom Penh, stating that based on the interviews, the 28 Indonesians were indicated to be TPPO victims.

Following up on the letter, KBRI Phnom Penh coordinated with the Cambodian Immigration Department regarding the immigration status and permits for the 28 Indonesian citizens.

After their repatriation to Indonesia, the 28 citizens have been accommodated in the Ministry of Social Affairs' RPTC Bambu Apus for rehabilitation before returning to their places of origin.

The citizens will also undergo a follow-up examination by the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri) for law enforcement and an investigation into recruiting agents in Indonesia.

Cambodia has emerged as the country with the highest increase in online scams perpetrated on Indonesian citizens, with the number of cases increasing eightfold in the period from 2021 to 2022.

"The Indonesian government has constantly advised Indonesian citizens to be cautious of accepting job opportunities that lead to exploitation by online scamming companies," the minister stated. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) sought to strengthen investment cooperation with investment partner countries, particularly France, at the 2023 Indonesia-France Business Forum held in Paris on Wednesday.

"The Nusantara Capital Authority is looking for investment possibilities and possible partners in France. Some of the businesses we contacted as a result of following up with various parties," OIKN head Bambang Susantono informed in a statement released in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Susantono, France has the potential to invest in the development of the new capital city. OIKN has previously held virtual meetings with several investors, and the forum provided an opportunity to hold face-to-face discussions to strengthen existing investment collaboration.

The meeting covered investment cooperation, specifically regarding the five basic characteristics of the development of the new Indonesian capital: green, inclusive, intelligent, resilient, and sustainable.

In addition, the focus of cooperation was investment within the realm of technological advancement.

The forum was organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Paris and the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF).

The head of OIKN met with Gerard Wolff, a senior advisor for the Sustainable Cities Program run by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs concurrently President of the Sustainable Cities Task Force at MEDEF (France's leading network of entrepreneurs), to learn how to make IKN a green city.

It is anticipated that Nusantara will also have a significant cultural presence. This will allow it to develop into a destination for people from the surrounding area as well as from further afield.

The OIKN head discussed this with the manager of the Louvre Museum Paris and planned to visit the Louvre Museum Paris.

Nusantara has been named the future capital of Indonesia, as stipulated and regulated by Law Number 3 of 2022.

The city has modified its approach to development to make it centered on Indonesia. The step is aimed at speeding up the economic transformation of the country. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - After a week of showcasing the Spring/Summer 2024 collection at L'Adresse Showroom in the official Paris Fashion Week agenda, Indonesian fashion artists brought their work to life on the catwalk in the framework of the Fête de l'Archipel (Nusantara Festival) in front of hundreds of world art observers in Paris.

At least 10 Indonesian fashion and accessories designers took the stage after their works were displayed. Here's the line-up: 3Mongkis, Adrie Basuki, Artkea, Aidan and Ice, Batik Gobang Jakarta, Hian Tjen, IKYK, ISI Denpasar: Natakerti Fashion Designer, Puta Dino Kayangan, Rita Rose.

Not only from Jakarta and Bali, the Tidore weaving from North Maluku, presented by Puta Dino Kayangan, was a special highlight. The natural colors and elegant designs caught the public's attention.

The Indonesian Ambassador in Paris, Mohamad Oemar, gave special appreciation to all designers who had worked hard to present their best collections on the world fashion stage.

"You will see on this stage, the wastras of our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation, mixed with current trends, without losing identity and identity." Oemar said.

Through the Nusantara Festival, Ambassador Oemar wants to introduce Indonesia to the French public. The event is held from September 29, 2023 to October 5, 2023 and is divided into several segments.

The wastra and cultural show was held at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel on October 4, 2023 and was attended by hundreds of spectators, especially world fashion observers in Paris and fashion influencers.

The fashion show was also punctuated by the powerful performance of the Betawi Kembang Batavia Dance which made Paris sing along with the rhythm of the Gambang Kromong orchestra presented by the DKI Jakarta Cultural Office.

The cultural performance in Paris was also complemented by Balinese dances Babarisan Sudamala, Deeng Nusantara and Kebyar Duduk presented by ISI Denpasar students and accompanied by Gamelan Bali Puspawarna from the Pantcha Indra Association based in Paris and promoted by French citizens who love Indonesia.

The Nusantara Festival continued with an Indonesian Cultural Night Diplomatic Reception, commemorating the 78th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia and the 78th Anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces with the entire diplomatic community in France including foreign Defense Attaches accredited to France and based in Paris.

In this Nusantara Festival series, the Indonesian Embassy in Paris in collaboration with the French business association MEDEF International has organized an Indonesia-France business forum attended by the Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, to open up French investment opportunities in development in Indonesia.

Ambassador Oemar hopes that this event will continue to increase Indonesia's visibility in the eyes of the French public and the world in order to bring progress and increased economic and development cooperation to Indonesia.

The event, called Fête de l'Archipel in Paris, will be closed with a Kerak Telor cooking demonstration at the world-renowned cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Kerak telor and bir pletok, Betawi's signature dish, will be presented by Chef Marinka, a judge of Master Chef Indonesia on October 5, 2023.

Festival Nusantara is an integrated promotion of Indonesia in the fields of trade, investment, creative economy including fashion and culinary, cultural promotion and tourism. The event, organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, was made possible through the cooperation and support of various ministries at the Central Government, DKI Jakarta Regional Government and Bank Indonesia, PT Pertamina Persero, PT Pertamina International Refinery, PT Pertamina International Exploration and Production (PIEP), Maurel and Prom, MS Glow, Institut Seni Indonesia Denpasar, Travelkif, InterAromat Netherlands, Jakarta Coffee, Goloya Jewelry, Fukumi, and Tanamera Coffee. (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has said that it expects the 2023 Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Summit Forum to strengthen the blue economy program.

"(AIS is expected to) strengthen the blue economy to ensure sustainable reserves of marine food sources," Kadin's vice chairperson for maritime, investment, and foreign affairs, Shinta Kamdani, told ANTARA here on Thursday.

The AIS Summit, she said, aims to build cooperation among AIS member countries in facing common challenges, such as climate change and blue economy development.

The forum will seek solutions to connectivity problems among AIS countries, discuss ways to empower coastal communities, and handle marine pollution, she added.

"It is expected to result in ideas and innovations that can be mobilized together," she said.

The AIS Forum, which will be held this year on October 10–11 in Bali, will have four focuses: adaptation and mitigation against climate change, promoting a sustainable blue economy, handling plastic waste in the oceans, and strengthening sustainable maritime governance.

Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Ayodhia Kalake said the AIS Forum Summit is a follow-up to the 4th AIS Ministerial Meeting held in Bali on December 5, 2022.

Meanwhile, marketing director for strengthening the competitiveness of marine and fisheries products at the Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry, Erwin Dwiyana, said that his side will carry out priority programs to promote the principle of sustainability, blue economy, and marine habitat preservation.

Earlier, head of the AIS Forum Secretariat, Riny Modaso, said that island and archipelagic countries need to strengthen collaboration in facing their common challenge, which is climate change.

Indonesia has invited 51 countries to the meeting, and at least 25 heads of state are expected to participate in the forum.

The high-level meeting is deemed essential to further concrete actions and cooperation among AIS countries. (Antaranews)