VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) Global will hold its 7th Congress on Saturday (12/8), in Jakarta. The 7th Indonesian Diaspora Congress (CID) raised the theme Empowering Indonesian Diaspora in the Strategy of Nation Branding Towards Indonesia 2045.

"So we diaspora see that the Nation Branding aspect or the positive image of the nation is very important for a nation. And for Indonesia, the moment is right now where we get so much positive attention from the world and we are walking towards the age of 100, the golden age in 2045," IDN Global President Kartini Sarsilaningsih said in a press statement in Jakarta, Thursday (10/8).

In addition, according to her, this theme was raised considering the characteristics of the Indonesian diaspora who live abroad and have access to communicate with the international community.

"The Indonesian diaspora is not only human capital but also strategic social capital for Indonesia because we live and settle abroad, so we are the faces of Indonesia abroad," she said.

In addition to the peak event of the Indonesian Diaspora Congress, IDN Global also held a series of activities leading up to CID-7, ranging from workshops, focus group discussions, visits to MPR representatives, counseling, webinars, to visits to the Capital of the Archipelago (IKN).

The 7th Indonesian Diaspora Congress sessions include:

Nation Branding Towards Indonesia 2045: Strategy and Implementation.
Achievement and Character of Indonesian Leaders 2045.
Professionalism of the Nation Towards Golden Indonesia.
Book Launching and Discussion "Diaspora Proud to be a Nation".
Becoming the Top 5 Economic Power in the World.
Meeting of BIPA Teachers-Activists and Declaration on the Globalization of Indonesian Language. (VOI/Andy)

VOInews, Jakarta: President of the Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) Global, Kartini Sarsilaningsih, Thursday (10/8), in Jakarta, said the construction of the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN) is a new milestone in Indonesia's journey towards the 2045 vision of a sovereign, advanced, just and prosperous Indonesia.

"This is in line with the theme that will be carried out in the 7th Congress of Indonesian Diaspora on August 12, namely Empowering Indonesian Diaspora in the Strategy of Nation Branding Towards Indonesia 2045 or Empowering Indonesian Diaspora in the Strategy of Forming a Positive Image of the Nation Towards Indonesia 2045," she said in a webinar speech Realizing IKN as a Livable and Lovable World City-Diaspora Contribution to Indonesia, in Jakarta, Thursday (10/8).She said that although the diaspora is separated by distance from Indonesia, they have a high sense of nationalism so that they feel called to contribute to the development of IKN.

"Today we gather to celebrate the spirit of collaboration and cooperation and embrace the valuable contributions of the Indonesian diaspora in realizing our great ideals as Indonesians," she said.

According to her, the construction of IKN is not just an ordinary infrastructure project, but a proving ground that Indonesia is capable, by mobilizing all elements of the nation to work together.

"Something that previously might have been a dream, has now begun to gradually reveal its potential to become not only the heart of Indonesia but also the heart of the world," she said.

She also conveyed the commitment of the Indonesian diaspora to contribute to the development of IKN. According to him, the Indonesian diaspora has been involved from the beginning of the IKN development planning.

"There is a friend of mine in the diaspora who won the building design competition at IKN from IDN Global Liveable Cities and since last year IDN Global has carried out various activities in the education sector aimed at preparing the younger generation in East Kalimantan so that later they will not be left behind when there are many immigrants in the IKN Nusantara Authority," she said.

She also invited the participation of the entire Indonesian diaspora scattered in various parts of the world to contribute to the development of IKN with the spirit of building together. According to her, this monumental project is not only a reflection of innovation and technology but also a commitment of Indonesia in maintaining the sustainability of natural preservation and harmonization of cultural diversity. (VOI/Andy)

VOINews, Jakarta - United States Senator from Illinois Tammy Duckworth told a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday that the office of ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar must be continued even after the current chair Indonesia’s term ends next year.

Next year, Laos will hold the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In accordance with the previous mechanism, the foreign minister of the chair country will become the special envoy for Myanmar.

The office of the ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar was set up this year under Indonesia’s initiative. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is currently heading the office and leading ASEAN's efforts to deal with the crisis in Myanmar.

Duckworth visited Jakarta to attend the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The US is one of the observer countries at AIPA.

She informed that during the meeting, she met with delegates from several ASEAN countries and other observer countries to discuss the Myanmar issue.

During the 44th AIPA General Assembly in Jakarta on Wednesday (August 9), AIPA and observer countries agreed to provide humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar who have been affected by the prolonged crisis.

Duckworth noted that Indonesia has played a strong leadership role around which everybody can come together to push the same effort.

“And what I said to the Indonesian delegation was, I hope that you will maintain that (special envoy) office even beyond your years as chair of ASEAN,” she stated.

“I know that your special representative (I Gede Ngurah Swajaya) is going to be ambassador to Switzerland. But after he leaves, I hope that Indonesia will appoint somebody else in that office to continue,” she added.

The senator said the US is very concerned about the human rights violations in Myanmar, with many populations, especially women and girls and the Rohingyas in particular, being decimated because of their religion.

“I hope that you continue to take a leadership role in that effort,” she added. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The European Union (EU) on Thursday highlighted its solid relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in trade and investment.

"We have very solid trade and investment relations," European Union Ambassador to ASEAN, Igor Driesmans, told reporters here.

This strong relationship can be seen from the trade value in goods between the EU and ASEAN, which has reached 200 billion euros per year, he said.

"If you compare this to Australia, to India, it's not even half that number," the ambassador added.

He said he hoped that the figure can be increased further, especially through the free trade agreements that the EU has reached with ASEAN countries.

The European Union has also made a large investment of 10 billion euros as part of cooperation in the fields of air transport, trade, and also for ASEAN connectivity.

It has also carried out its green agenda in ASEAN under the push to tackle climate change by pursuing net zero emissions.

The EU itself accounts for 17 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Therefore, cooperation with many parties, including ASEAN, is considered important and urgent, given the increasing number of disasters in a number of countries lately due to climate change.

"If you see the kind of impact that climate change is having on our own continent, it is really frightening in many ways," he said.

"So, we need to work together. We need to try to get all the countries in the world to work together to tackle climate change," Driesmans added. (Antaranews)