VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Photo: RRI/KJRI Sydney

Director General of Immigration of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights/ Silmy Karim/ hopes/ the electronic passport or e-passport service at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney/ Australia/ can provide convenience for Indonesian citizens residing in Australia/ especially in Sydney//

In  written information received in Jakarta/ Friday (6/9)/ Silmy Karim said/ the e-passport service at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney was officially launched on Wednesday (4/9)// The inauguration is part of a series of celebrations for Indonesian Independence Day and the 75th Anniversary of Indonesia-Australia Diplomatic Relations// In addition/ the launch also confirms the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney as the first Indonesian Representative in the Pacific and Oceania regions/ which can issue electronic passports//

The Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney is the eighth Indonesian Representative to serve the issuance of e-passport// Previously/ the Directorate General of Immigration has opened e-passport services in Singapore/ Tokyo-Japan/ Seoul-South Korea/ The Hague-Netherlands/ Jeddah-Saudi Arabia/ Los Angeles-United States/ and Berlin-Germany//

Silmy Karim said/ electronic passports are equipped with chips that store biometric data//

With more advanced security features/ electronic passports are safer from potential forgery// In addition/ it also makes it easier for Indonesian citizens in Australia who often travel internationally/ because the immigration inspection process is smoother//

According to Silmy Karim / easy access to e-passports helps Indonesian citizens abroad when applying for visas to other countries/ especially to countries that have easier visa approval preferences for electronic passport users//

Silmy Karim added/ the Directorate General of Immigration is committed to bringing immigration services closer to the community/ including Indonesian citizens abroad/ through the provision of e-passport services at Indonesian Representatives//

Photo source: travelinkmagz.com via tripsumba.com

In addition to the enchanting natural and cultural tourist destinations of Sumba, this beautiful island in the province of East Nusa Tenggara also has several typical foods and beverages that are proven to be delicious and are the favorites of visitors. One of the typical Sumba culinary delights that must be tried is Kadapet Watara.

Kadapet watara is a type of snack originating from Sumba. This Kadapet watara made from corn, bananas and a mixture of ground peanuts and sugar. These main ingredients are mixed into a dough, which is then processed into a round shape. What makes this typical Sumba Kadapat Witara cookies unique is that after the dough is formed, it will be wrapped in dried corn leaves. Its taste is very special, perfect for lovers of sweet snacks.

Besides for its unique taste, Kadapet Watara is also renown for the way of making it. The process has been known since ancient times and has continued to be passed down from generation to generation to the present. Therefore, many tourists are attracted to learn how to make it from the people around Sumba. Previously, this Kadapet Watara was only a home-made culinary delight made to enliven special events such as traditional ceremonies or celebrations in the Sumba area. But now Kadapet Watara has become one of the typical souvenirs from Sumba. Even a must-buy for tourists visiting Sumba.

Photo source: eng.ui.ac.id

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) once again has named a team of students from the Faculty of Engineering (FT) of the University of Indonesia (UI) as the 1st Place Winner. The team won the Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design category at the ASHRAE Design Competition 2024. in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The sIx students who are members of the Archine team, Faculty of Engineering (FT) of the University of Indonesia (UI) managed to outperform 163 other teams with their green building design which they named Bromeliad Library. For three consecutive years, UI students have always won this event.

This project highlights the concept of a building that can reduce CO2 emissions and meet net-zero emissions standards. To achieve this goal, the building combines passive and active strategies in its design. Passive strategies include optimizing natural light, reducing solar heat, and innovative clay facades to control humidity. On the other hand, building strategies focus on air quality, efficient water management, and energy-efficient lighting.

Biman, a member of the team, explained that the Bromeliad Library is equipped with several superior features such as LED sunlight sensors and the use of the roof area for vegetated terraces and solar panels. The building also has a water and fog harvesting system that can collect up to 3.3 million liters of rainwater and dew per year. With the implementation of these strategies and technologies, the use of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) in the building has been significantly reduced from 211 kWh/m² to 87 kWh/m², reducing energy consumption by 59%.

Indonesian Ambassador to Australia/ Siswo Pramono/ highlighted bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia in several fields/ such as agriculture/ mining and resources/ electronic commerce/ as well as renewable technology and infrastructure//

In a statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney/ Ambassador to Australia/ Siswo Pramono disclosed/ Indonesian investment in Australia last year reached 2.22 billion Australian dollars// This figure highlights the strong foundation for future economic collaboration and opportunities for joint growth between the two countries//

Ambassador Siswo Pramono also revealed/ since the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement began in 2020/ Australia has experienced an increase in investment from Indonesia by 88 percent//

He mentioned   that the Australian Minister of Trade and Tourism/ Don Farrell/ had outlined the Southeast Asia-Australia economic strategy until 2040 and several other Australian government programs/ to strengthen relations between the two countries//

There was also  the signing of  a memorandum of understanding between  Central Queensland University and an Indonesian company PT BISA Ruang Nuswantara - BIRU / as a strong commitment to improve vocational and executive education between Indonesian and Australian companies//

Signed at the 2024 IndOz Conference dinner in Brisbane/ Queensland/ Australia/ on August 22/ the MoU focuses on developing vocational education training and curricula that are aligned with Australian standards//

Indonesia and Australia held the Indonesia-Australia business meeting or the 2024 IndOz Conference with the theme "Indonesia - Australia: Together Building the Economic Powerhouse of Southeast Asia"// The conference showcased trade/ investment/ and technology partnerships between Indonesia and Australia// It also highlighted opportunities in the digital technology/ renewable energy/ education/ resources and mining sectors//