VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta will celebrate its 497th anniversary on June 22 2024. However, a series of events have been held from May to July. Some of the events being held in the series of Jakarta's 2024 anniversary are the Jakarta Fair to the Jakarta Light Festival 2024.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi has appointed Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Ngurah Swajaya as her special envoy to attend the Ukraine Peace Forum in Switzerland.

Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya expressed Indonesia's readiness to become the main mediator in the forum. In a conversation with Pro 3 RRI  on  Tuesday (6/18), he  pointed out  that Indonesia always supports efforts to resolve peace through negotiations. He also emphasized that  Indonesia has a reputation for resolving various international conflicts, including the conflict in Cambodia. Indonesia is considered one of the countries that really has a commitment to encourage the peaceful resolution of every conflict in the world.

Moreover, Ambassador Ngurah conveyed Indonesia's presence shows a strong commitment to international law and the Charter of the United Nations. He argued that other countries must also take responsibility  because of the importance of international cooperation. The Ambassador also revealed that the main purpose of this forum is to equalize international perceptions.  He viewed   this will have a positive impact in helping efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict peacefully. Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya also highlighted the importance of the role of the parties involved in the conflict in the next negotiation process. This forum is expected to be the first step towards more concrete peace.

Indonesian fashion designer Merdi Sihombing, with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of and the Gadjah Mada University Innovation and Creativity Center (GIK UGM), successfully exhibited the typical Batak Ulos cloth at the 2024 Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada on May 30 to June 2, 2024. The event, held at Toronto's iconic CF Toronto Eaton Centre, is a tribute to indigenous artists and designers from around the world. At this event, Merdi's work collaborated with traditional artists from all over the world. Merdi's designs feature a variety of patterns and symbolism found in ulos from geometric shapes representing natural elements to stylized figures depicting legendary heroes. The Sitolu Huta Ulos collection on display successfully combines the intricate art of ulos with traditional hand-woven textiles that have deep meaning. Each piece tells a story about ancestral wisdom, community ties and spiritual blessings passed down from generation to generation.

Merdi Sihombing, on Saturday (15/6/2024), as quoted from Kontan.co.id, interpreted his ulos cloth works as products that not only decorate the body, but also lift the soul and connect the soul with cultural heritage of the ancestors. Ulos Sitolu Huta, uses natural dyes derived from local plants and minerals. The result is an earthy color palette. Merdi's collection evokes the bright colors of the landscape such as deep indigo, deep red and warm brown blend perfectly with intricate weaves, creating a harmonious visual symphony. The use of sustainable materials and ethical production practices further strengthens the collection's connection to nature and community. Merdi believes that fashion is a powerful medium for cultural expression and storytelling. Through fashion, Merdi seeks to preserve and celebrate the beauty of fashion heritage while pushing the boundaries of creativity.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Hilmar Farid, expressed his appreciation that the traditional touches and natural materials, which are the characteristics of Merdi's work, are a commitment to preserving culture and empowering local craftsmen. According to him, Merdi's dedication to sustainable fashion is in line with Indonesia's efforts in environmental conservation and cultural diplomacy. This proves that lifestyle and social responsibility can go hand in hand. Merdi's success at the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival Toronto 2024 proves the power of Indonesian fashion in celebrating cultural identity, empowering communities, while connecting tradition and modernity.

Indonesian Ambassador to Finland and Estonia, Ratu Silvy Gayatri, encourages the promotion of Indonesia to the Finnish people. According to her, the Indonesian people already know Finland as the happiest country, but the Finnish people don't fully know about Indonesia.

Ratu Silvy Gayatri conveyed this on the sidelines of the 2024 Indonesia and Finland Festival in Lasipalatsin Aukio, Helsinki. This annual activity was organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki with the support of the Indonesian diaspora community on 15 and 16 June 2024.

The festival, which was attended by nearly 5,000 visitors over two days, was held to introduce the diversity of Indonesian culture to people in the Nordic countries, especially Finland. Ambassador Silvy stated the mission is important to carry out, especially because this year Indonesia and Finland are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations.

The 2024 Indonesian and Finnish Festival was even more special thanks to the presence of a delegation from the Jakarta Culture Service and representatives of the North Kalimantan Provincial Government, East Kutai Regency Government, East Kalimantan, Minahasa Regency, and the Tomohon City Government, North Sulawesi.

Apart from regional government representatives, this festival was also supported by a number of representatives of some Indonesian-related businesses, including rattan furniture companies and Indonesian fashion textile products.

As an event that is a symbol of Indonesia-Finland collaboration, the 2024 Indonesia and Finland Festival also featured representatives of local musicians. They performed typical Finnish folk songs accompanied by traditional instruments such as the kantele, acoustic guitar, and flute.

Finland is one of Indonesia's important trading partners in the Northern European region. The trade value between Indonesia and Finland in the first quarter of 2024 shows an increase of up to 40 percent compared to the same period last year, making this figure already exceed the pre-pandemic trading level.