Lake Lau Kawar is located at the foot of Mount Sinabung, in Kutagugung Village, Namanteran District, Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province. The lake is surrounded by mountains, and covered with tropical rainforest timber trees. This area is a Leuser Ecosystem Area (KEL) with an altitude of 2,451 meters above sea level. With a distance of about 70 km from downtown of North Sumatra Province, you will find the atmosphere of a cool climate with temperatures from 16 to 17 degrees Celsius so that this area is classified as fertile.
Indonesia Gastrodiplomacy Series Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, was carried out on June 27-30, 2024. This event involved 23 foreign ministers and aimed at reinforcing international relations.
The Director for Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati, stated on Saturday (29/6), in Labuan Bajo, that international relations would strengthen and solidify Indonesia's political ties. During the three to four-day event, she emphasized that fellowship and connection between the participating countries will be well-developed.
Ani explained that the event themed "Diplomatic Tour Trail of Spices in East Nusa Tenggara" would accommodate Indonesia's relationship and networking with neighboring countries. This was especially important since participants came from various countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Latin America. Therefore, nearly all regions worldwide were represented by foreign ministers involved in the event.
According to Ani, relationship and networking between countries is a fundamental basis for Indonesia to build political relations and extend economic relations in more regions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to maintaining good diplomacy with neighboring countries. They will also support interconnected fields among countries and Indonesia's national development.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promoted the tourism potential of Labuan Bajo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province, to 23 foreign ministers to improve the investment in the region.
The Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, stated on Thursday (27/6), in Labuan Bajo, that the region's potential includes investment potential, trading potential, and tourism potential.
Siti explained that the foreign ministers were invited to observe tourism potential in the super-priority tourism destinations at Labuan Bajo, such as Padar Island, Komodo Island, and Pink Beach in the Komodo National Park area. They also came to see investment potential in the integrated tourism area, Parapuar and Golo Mori, Labuan Bajo.
This diplomatic gastronomy event was also aimed at introducing Indonesian cuisine to foreign ministers of neighboring countries and to other foreigners.
Moreover, foreign ministers were also invited to take a look at the region's small and medium enterprises products, such as woven cloth, processed food, and traditional craft, so that they will also be able to be marketed in their respective countries.
Topeng ireng or known as Dayakan is a traditional art that has been thrived in the Magelang Regency area, Central Java for a long time. Topeng Ireng or Dayakan is a form of new creation folk dance. The name Topeng Ireng comes from the word Toto Lempeng Irama Kenceng. Toto means to organize, Lempeng means straight, Irama means tone, and Kenceng means loud. Therefore, in Topeng Ireng performances the dancers line up straight and are accompanied by loud and energetic rhythmic music.
Topeng Ireng dance is a form of traditional art performance that combines Islamic religious propagation and Pencak Silat. Not surprisingly, this dance is always accompanied by upbeat music and songs with Islamic verses. In addition to the propagation of Islam, this dance performance also describes the life of rural communities living on the slopes of Merapi Merbabu.
Topeng Ireng art is believed to have been developed in the community on the slopes of Merapi Merbabu since the Dutch colonial era. After that, the art of Topeng Ireng performance grows. When Muslims build a mosque, before the dome is installed, it will be paraded around the village. The procession will be followed by the entire community around the mosque with dances accompanied by tambourines and verses of praise. In its journey, the art developed into the art of Topeng Ireng.
Topeng Ireng dance has simple movements. There are no complicated gestures, because the main point of this dance is cohesiveness. The more dancers participating, the more beautiful the collaboration that is created. The dance also comes from modified Pencak Silat movements. This dance movement is not monotonous. From time to time new innovations are always made in every Topeng Ireng performance.
The Indonesian Embassy in Manila has organized Indonesia Expo 2024 to promote Indonesian products and culture in the Philippines. Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo in his remarks at the opening of Indonesia Expo 2024 at Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2, Makati City, Friday (28/6) said that the Indonesia Expo 2024 exhibition is one of the efforts of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to increase mutual understanding and encourage closer economic collaboration between Indonesia and the Philippines. In his statement on Saturday (29/6), quoted by ANTARA, Ambassador Agus said that the Indonesia Expo 2024 activity is a concrete action to realize the mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to foster closer economic and cultural relations with accredited countries.
The exhibition, held from June 28 to 30, 2024, carries the theme "Build Strong Connection with the Best of Indonesia in the Philippines". This theme reflects the commitment of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to bring the best quality products to the Philippine market and provide an Indonesian cultural experience for visitors.
Various cultural performances, live bands, and side events were prepared to pamper visitors during the three-day exhibition, including angklung workshops, cooking demonstrations, coffee brewing, and Batik painting.
Indonesia Expo 2024 participants included Indonesian companies whose products are already marketed in the Philippines, as well as Filipino importers who distribute Indonesian products.
The exhibition featured a wide range of product categories, including halal food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, confectionery, fashion and accessories, household products, logistics and surveyor services, health and beauty, and stationery.
The combination of various types of products is expected to provide an overview and display of Indonesia's diverse superior products and various business offers in Indonesia to meet the various needs and preferences of the Philippine market.
The first Indonesia Expo in the Philippines was held in 2022. Every year, the Indonesian Embassy in Manila strives to expand its offerings and refine the concept of the expo, in order to provide the best overview to the Philippine market and better service to exhibitors.