VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, said the celebration of the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore is not only a source of pride for the Indonesian people but also a symbol of strong bilateral relations with Singapore. Ambassador Suryo Pratomo conveyed this at a diplomatic reception, Thursday (22/8/2024).

As quoted by Antara, the diplomatic reception was attended by the guests of honor, Singapore's Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu, members of the diplomatic community, high-ranking officials, and a number of prominent business leaders.

Apart from highlighting the importance of celebrating the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day, in his speech, Ambassador Suryo Pratomo emphasized that despite changes in leadership in both countries, foreign policy and mutually beneficial cooperation remain strong.

The Ambassador also praised the strong economic relations between Indonesia and Singapore, with record-breaking investment figures, and the continued growth of bilateral trade.

He said Singapore remains one of the largest investors in Indonesia, with investments reaching 8.9 billion US dollars in the first half of 2024.

The Ambassador also highlighted the cultural, educational, and research exchanges that have developed rapidly between the two countries. This is a significant step forward in developing research on sustainability and innovation.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu, also expressed recognition of the strong bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore. She said the strength of bilateral relations is also due to strong collaboration so that the two countries can complement each other's national interests.

Apart from that, they can also contribute at regional and global levels. The minister hopes the two countries will cooperate further on new and emerging issues. On this occasion, she also expressed her admiration for Indonesia's diversity, as seen from the various traditional clothing worn by officials and staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore during the event.

today's Miscellany presents good news from the 2024 World Dance Festival in South Korea where Indonesian students won gold medals in the dance festival held at the Suwon Convention Center. The festival, held by the Korea Dance Organization, featured participants from various countries in two main categories: traditional dance and modern dance. At this event, participants from Indonesia, represented by Kesatuan Bangsa Yogyakarta Junior and Senior High School students, won gold medals in the WDF 2024 Best Performance category which took place in Seoul from 15 to 18 August 2024. At the festival, 21 dancers from the school amazed the audience with the Ratoh Jaroe Dance, or commonly called the Saman Dance, a traditional dance from Aceh.

The victory at the World Dance Festival in South Korea certainly brings pride, especially for Indonesian schools and society. The school hopes that this achievement can further boost Indonesia's positive image on the international stage. One of the student assistants and dance instructors, Ariyan Latifa, said that the results achieved were inseparable from the students' hard and disciplined training for a year as well as the support of the school and parents, which increased the students' enthusiasm in obtaining the champion title. Besides winning a gold medal, the National Kesatuan School Saman Dance Team also received a special invitation from the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, to carry out a cultural mission by performing in front of Indonesian citizens and invited guests including local residents at the celebration of the 79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence.

On this important occasion, Charge d'Affaires ad Interim at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Zelda Wulan Kartika, emphasized the importance of celebrating Independence Day as a moment to respect history and think about the future. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul expressed his appreciation to the dance team for making Indonesia proud. This achievement is certainly an inspiration for the entire academic community to continue to play an active role in building the nation. The regional dance performance presented by the Kesatuan Bangsa School in the mid of the "Korean Wave" or Hallyu which has spread throughout the world, including Indonesia, shows that Indonesian students are able to steal attention and present the "Indonesian Wave" in South Korea.

The Indonesian Embassy  in Astana, Kazakhstan  in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) Denpasar and the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan  held an exhibition of Indonesian art. The art exhibition was held at the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan  on Monday (19/8). Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, M. Fadjroel Rachman pointed out that the exhibition aims at introducing the richness of Indonesian culture to the people of Kazakhstan. He is very grateful for the strategic collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Arts Denpasar and the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan. Through a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Astana received in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/8), Ambassador Fadjroel explained the art exhibition is part of strengthening Indonesia's cultural diplomacy in Kazakhstan. He hopes  through various joint activities , the friendship of both countries continue to progress in all fields.

Meanwhile,  the Rector of ISI Denpasar, I Wayan Adnyana  assessed the event is important  because it marks the successful signing of a memorandum of understanding of educational cooperation between ISI Denpasar and the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan. Wayan has also explained  that this art exhibition activity is a series of agenda visits to Kazakhstan. There is an art performance at the diplomatic reception of the Indonesian Embassy in Astana with the theme Bali Night Festival  and there is an art exhibition at the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan. On that occasion, Vice Rector of the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan  Yessentemirova Aigul Maratovna  also expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy in Astana and ISI Denpasar for the opportunity to get to know Indonesian art more.

During the event, visitors can also watch traditional Balinese dance performed by ISI Denpasar and the National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan. The National Choreography Academy of Kazakhstan is actively expanding the geography of international cooperation. The Academy of Kazakhstan also feels proud  because it is able to create bridges between the arts and culture of various countries. The art exhibition is an important step in strengthening the cultural ties of Kazakhstan and Indonesia, promoting mutual understanding and respect between nations  and enriching cultural heritage and expanding the horizons of world perception.// that’s Diplomatic Corner

Silmy Karim of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) officially released the latest Republic of Indonesia (RI) passport design on Saturday, August 17, 2024, coinciding with Indonesia's 79th Anniversary. The new RI passport design uses 33 of the 5,849 Indonesian archipelago fabric patterns from Sabang to Merauke, with red and white cover colors. Director General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Silmy Karim, explained that the red and white colors symbolize the unification of the nation, honor, and the history of the nation's struggle, courage, and purity.

On the other hand, traditional Indonesian fabric patterns symbolize the diversity of cultures, ethnicities, races, and groups, as well as the dynamics of national life, as stated by Karim In terms of appearance, the passport page design uses traditional fabric patterns of each region in Indonesia, and the patterns will change its shape under the UV light. The change in RI passport design aims to improve the Indonesian passport power in the world. So far, the Indonesian passport is ranked 69th in the strongest passports in the world category. Indonesian passport holders can travel visa-free to 78 countries.

Karim said that there have been three changes in the Indonesian passport color design since 1945. Indonesian passports in 1945-1958 used gray color, changed to blue in 1959-1982, changed to green in 1995, and the latest change was to turquoise in 2014. The combination of raw material security features and new printing technology is a major concern to ensure that passports can be used to travel overseas.

Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yassona Laoly, outlined the main functions of passports. Laoly said that a passport is not just a travel document, but a reflection of the nation's identity and pride. This can be seen from the latest design of the Indonesian passport which depicts the richness of Indonesian culture through a variety of traditional fabrics and authentic Indonesian colors.