VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Embassy in Suva, Fiji, encourages Fijian civil society to understand and encourage the strengthening of cooperation between Indonesia and Fiji in various fields through the establishment of the Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association (FIFA). This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito D Simamora to Voice of Indonesia, via Zoom connection on Wednesday (8/5/2024). Ambassador Simamora revealed the support of the Fijian people for the formation of FIFA which became a forum for grassroots diplomacy of the Indonesian and Fijian communities.

"Many tribal chiefs, many political figures, even some rectors from universities and big businessmen in Fiji have declared themselves joining this association. So we think this is an important capital, so that now in the future FIFA will become our partner in various efforts that we make at the government level. And of course, later we hope that FIFA can consolidate relations between the two countries, especially after we celebrate 17 June as the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations or diplomacy between Indonesia and Fiji," Ambassador Dupito Simamora said.

Ambassador Simamora further explained that FIFA is intended to build trust between Indonesia and Fiji as well as understanding between the people of the two countries so that they are not easily instigated by NGOs or parties that are less friendly to Indonesia. "We want to encourage Fijian civil society to be able to understand and also support the cooperation that is being built between the two nations. This is one of the important infrastructure buildings of diplomacy in supporting cooperation in various fields, including education, vocational training, agriculture and most importantly for us in addition to understanding, a relationship of mutual respect and trust must be built between the two countries which is also agreed upon or supported by civil society so that they are not easily influenced by some NGOs that may be less friendly to Indonesia," Ambassador Simamora explained.

As quoted from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry website (kemlu.go.id), Indonesia has established diplomatic relations with Fiji since 1974, and has an embassy in Suva City which was established in 2002. The Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association was inaugurated by the President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on 26 March 2024 in Suva.

VOInews, Jakarta: The Ministry of Agriculture will build a 10,000-hectare modern agriculture cluster. As a first step, the development will begin in Bandung Regency, West Java by involving many parties including universities to attract millennials. This commitment was conveyed by Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman during a working visit to Solokan Jeruk Village, Bandung Regency, Tuesday (7/5/2024). "We want to create a cluster in West Java of 5,000 to 10,000 hectares. So, everything will use high technology that is in line with modern countries," said Minister Amran Sulaiman.

Mr Amran said the modern farming cluster is a future breakthrough to attract young people who are currently entering the demographic bonus. Later, millennials or gen z will operate drones, remote controls and other planting robots that can speed up production.

"There will be no manual planting. Everything is planted using machines, harvested using machines. We are enhancing our efforts so far with the use of technology and mechanisation," he said.

In the future, the Minister hopes that this modern agriculture cluster will trigger the expansion of modern agriculture in other areas so that Indonesia can become a model for Southeast Asia and ASEAN as a whole. "I want our agriculture to be an example for Southeast Asia and Asia. So fertilising is no longer manual but using drones," he added.

Bandung Regent Dadang Supriatna fully supports Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to build modern agriculture in his area. Moreover, he said, agriculture has proven to be the main support for economic growth in the Bandung area. "During Covid-19, Bandung's economic growth rate was minus 1.87 per cent, but now it has increased to 4.93 per cent. After we study and explore that it turns out, the majority of the main support in the economic growth rate of Bandung Regency comes from agriculture," he said.

Therefore, Dadang wants his people, who are mostly farmers, to make good use of all the programmes run by the Ministry of Agriculture, including pompanisation and modern agricultural clusters. "Thank you for your help and support so that we Bandung Regency farmers are ready to take steps to make Bandung Regency the location of future modern agriculture,"  Bandung Regent concluded.

VOInews, Jakarta: Fiji shared many similarities with Indonesia. Quoting an interview with the Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji, Dupito D. Simamora on the Voice of Indonesia's Ranah Diplomasi programme on Wednesday (8/5/2024) there are at least three similarities between Indonesia and Fiji.

First, according to Ambassador Simamora, like Indonesia, Fiji is also an archipelago republic. "Fiji is an archipelago in the southern Pacific with about 300 islands but the area is about almost four times the island of Bali, so all the islands in Fiji are about four times the size of the island of Bali," Ambassador Simamora said. Ambassador Simamora added that Indonesia is actually also part of the Pacific archipelago which is glued together by the Melanesian race of some Indonesian tribes with Pacific countries. Indonesia is an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group as well as a dialogue partner of the Pacific Island Forum along with Fiji.

Like Indonesia, according to Ambassador Simamora, Fiji is a country that lives with ethnic and religious diversity. "Maybe it can be said to be the only country that is multi-ethnic and multi-religious because here in addition to the Melanesian group which is the indigenous population of around 65 percent, there is also a fairly large portion of indo-fijians or Fijians of Indian descent who were brought here to work on plantations, especially sugar cane plantations and that is also one of the characteristics of Fiji is that besides being multi-ethnic it is also multi-religious, or multi-religious. The largest is Christianity followed by Hinduism and then Islam and of course other religions. So if in other Pacific countries it can almost be said to be homogeneous although there are always minorities but here is the only heterogeneous country which may also be a kind of mini Indonesia but in a different composition, "continued Ambassador Simamora.

The third similarity, according to Ambassador Simamora, is that the Fijian people are generally sports lovers. If Indonesians are generally happy with football and badminton, while Fijians like rugby. "So I think there are similarities with Indonesia. But the pride of Fijians is rugby, so it is not surprising that in 2020 this country also won a gold medal at the Olympics in Tokyo," concluded the Ambassador who began serving since August 2023.

 VOInews, Jakarta: Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), which currently ranks among the 10 Islamic banks with the largest market capitalisation in the world, makes Indonesia's Islamic finance an attractive and potential market for domestic and foreign investors. This was conveyed by Adiwarman Azwar Karim, an Islamic finance expert at the Islamic Banking Outlook 2024 held at Flix Cinema, Ashta 8 District South Jakarta, Wednesday (8/5/2024). The event was attended by Islamic Banking leaders and Islamic finance practitioners in Indonesia.

"The first thing is that we are happy with the current developments. Bank Syariah Indonesia, for example, is in the top 10 largest Islamic banks in the world in terms of market capitalisation. This is an encouraging thing and gives a signal to the world that Indonesia is an attractive country and has great potential for investment in Islamic finance," said Adiwarman, who is currently Deputy President Commissioner of Bank BSI.

In his presentation, Adiwarman A. Karim outlined a roadmap for the development of national Islamic banking through the consolidation of sharia units per cluster. "We see that there will be consolidation, where banks that have small sharia business units (UUS) will consolidate with seven scenarios, where these small banks, UUS-UUS, assets will group themselves into several groups and become banks with larger sizes," explained the founder of Karim Consulting Indonesia.

Adiwarwan also stated the possibility of the birth of two giant Islamic Banks like Bank Syariah Indonesia, which currently has total assets of Rp 348.41 trillion as of February 2024. According to him, the presence of new large Islamic banks will increase the percentage of Indonesia's Islamic banking assets, which currently reaches 7.38% of Indonesia's banking share.

VOInews, Jakarta: Eid Jalaa' (Evaluation Day), which falls every 17 April, is a big day for Syrians that symbolises glory and freedom. This was stated by Syrian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulmonem Annan in a special interview aired on 2 May 2024 on the Voice of Indonesia terrestrial radio channel. As is known, Eid Jalaa' marks the expulsion of the French army from the land of independent Syria on 17 April 1946.

"Indeed, the day of evacuation or independence day is an important day in which various tribes, nations, and cultures around the world gather. And this day is a great day that for Syrians symbolises glory and freedom, because it is impossible for citizens or a nation to feel honour and freedom if they are denied their independence or are under occupation," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan said.

According to Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan, Eid Jalaa' is a moment for the people to celebrate Syria's glorious history of their collective struggle for independence. "Syrians on 17 April every year celebrate the greatness of their past history, despite the mosaic and diversity that distinguishes them, they are united, making sacrifices up to blood for the independence of their country from French colonialists," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan continued.

Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan, who began serving since February 2023 in Indonesia, also mentioned the Palestinian struggle and efforts to realise peace in the region. "It is impossible for peace to be realised in the world, including in the Middle East in particular without a comprehensive and just peace. When I say comprehensive, we mean that peace must include the core conflict in the Middle East, namely the Palestinian conflict. It is impossible for Arab countries to reach a lasting and durable peace agreement as long as the Palestinian people have not gained their independence, dignity and freedom," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan concluded.

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia and Syria share the same vision for peace in the Middle East. This was conveyed by Syrian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulmonem Annan in a special interview titled "The Brotherly Relationship between Indonesia and Syria" which aired on 2 May 2024 on the Voice of Indonesia broadcast channel. "We believe that Syria is in the same boat with Indonesia in terms of realising peace in the Middle East in terms of respect for international rules, UN resolutions and UNSC resolutions, respect for the sovereignty of nations to determine their direction of travel. Syria is the 23rd or 25th country, we don't mention the 25th or 27th, to pioneer the famous Bandung Conference in 1955 which mandated the right of every nation to determine its direction of travel," Ambassador Abdulmon'em Annan said.

The similarity of views can be seen in the principles and approaches taken by Indonesia and Syria in realising peace in Palestine. "I believe that when I look at Indonesia's politics in the face of what is happening in Palestine, I believe that Indonesia's politics are the closest to Syria's attitudes and politics. The coordination between us is established in various forums and organisations," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan continued. Ambassador Annan explained that Syria and Indonesia continue to coordinate in the General Assembly, UN Security Council, Human Rights Council in Geneva, and the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Organisation in Hague.

Among the common values that Indonesia and Syria share, according to Ambassador Annan, are justice, respect for the principles of international rules and the values of pluralism. "We find today the reversal of democratic values, liberalism and general freedom that the West has been singing for decades, maybe even centuries. So peace will not be stable, as affirmed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as long as it is not based on justice, on international rules and respect for the principles of international rules, and respect for pluralism," Ambassador Annan told Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta (30/4/2024).

VOInews, Jakarta: A French historian and archaeologist said that every man has two nationalities, his own and Syria, because Syria is the cradle of civilisation. This was conveyed by the Syrian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdulmonem Annan, during a special interview in Arabic that aired on the Voice of Indonesia channel on Thursday (2/5/2024). "Indeed, there is a French archaeologist and historian who said that every citizen in this world has two homelands: the country where he comes from and Syria. Because as you said, Syria is the cradle of civilisation," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan told Voice of Indonesia.

Syria, Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan said, is the first place where the alphabet and written peace documents were known in the history of human civilisation. "Syria is the first place where the alphabet was invented in history. Syria is home to the oldest olive tree ever found. Syria was the first country to introduce written peace treaties. Syria is the home of the Ugarit kingdom, the Marie kingdom that can be traced 3 millennia BC," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan continued.

Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan conveyed the rich history of Syria which is full of tolerance. "Tolerance lives with Christians in Syria today, tolerance with priests in Syria. The language of Christ is spoken in the north of Syria in a city called Ma'loula, called Arami or Suryani. The Syrian people, when they look back at their history, how they have tolerated each other for thousands of years, this really unites them. We as Syrians are proud of this history," Ambassador Annan explained.

The archaeological heritage that exists in Syria to this day, according to Ambassador Annan, can give us a feeling of unity as human beings. "Who goes to Syria today and sees how archaeological remains exist he will feel that these relics belong to humanity, before being attributed to religion and culture. The succession of cultures left various traces, you can see the largest amphitheatre in the world in comparison to archaeological traces, it was built in the Byzantine Roman Era. So was the Umawi Mosque during the Umayyad Dynasty. There was an ancient church before the advent of Islam, there is an inclusive heritage of human civilisation that unites us all. As for each person having various religious cultural identities, it does not erase the common fundamental heritage that we are born and grow with that spirit," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan concluded.

KBRN, Brasilia: The development of the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN) can learn from Brazil's experience of moving the capital from Rio de Jenairo to Brasilia. Brazil has a long experience of moving the capital from Salvador to Rio de Jenairo until the transfer of the capital city of Brasilia in 1960. The city of Brasilia is the third capital of Brazil whose construction has been planned since the early 19th century. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil, Edi Yusup in an interview with the Ranah Diplomasi Program which aired on 30 April 2024 on the Voice of Indonesia radio channel entitled IKN-Brazilia Collaboration in the Context of Friendship between Indonesia and Brazil.

According to Ambassador Edi Yusup, Brasilia is Brazil's third capital city whose construction has been planned since the early 19th century. Citing the Consilience Journal, Brazil's Capital Relocation Act was approved by congress in 1891. The plan to move the capital from Rio de Jenairo to Brasilia was only realised 69 years later. "This is actually the second capital move, the first capital was in Salvador. From Salvador moved to Rio and then to Brasilia. And the process or plan to move the capital has actually been quite long, from the 1800s actually. It was only realised in 1960," explained the Ambassador who previously served as Director of East Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The construction of the capital city of Brasilia, which is located in the middle of Brazil, as Ambassador Edi Yusup explained, aims to equalise development more ideally. "Indeed, the first goal of moving the capital city is to develop equitable development and also build a modern city. In addition, the city of Brasilia is located in the middle so that the distribution of development is expected to be better than if the capital was in Rio de Janeiro," Ambassador Edi Yusup continued. (Daniel)

VOInews, Jakarta: The development of the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN) can learn from Brazil's experience of capital transfer from Rio de Jenairo to Brasilia. Brazil has a long experience of moving the capital from Salvador to Rio de Jenairo until it was relocated to current capital of Brasilia in 1960. The city of Brasilia is the third capital of Brazil whose construction has been planned since the early 19th century. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil, Edi Yusup in an interview with the Ranah Diplomasi Program which aired on 30 April 2024 on the Voice of Indonesia radio channel entitled IKN-Brazilia Collaboration in the Context of Friendship between Indonesia and Brazil.

According to Ambassador Edi Yusup, Brasilia is Brazil's third capital city whose construction has been planned since the early 19th century. Citing the Consilience Journal, Brazil's Capital Relocation Act was approved by the Congress in 1891. The plan to move the capital from Rio de Jenairo to Brasilia was only realised 69 years later. "This is actually the second capital move, the first capital was in Salvador. From Salvador moved to Rio and then to Brasilia. And the process or plan to move the capital has actually been quite long, from the 1800s actually. It was only realised in 1960," explained the Ambassador who previously served as Director of East Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The construction of the capital city of Brasilia, which is located in the middle of Brazil, as Ambassador Edi Yusup explained, aims to equalise development more ideally. "Indeed, the first goal of moving the capital city is to develop equitable development and also build a modern city. In addition, the city of Brasilia is located in the middle so that the distribution of development is expected to be better than if the capital was in Rio de Janeiro," Ambassador Edi Yusup continued. (Daniel)

VOINews, Jakarta : The King Salman Centre for Social and Humanitarian Aid (KS Relief) in collaboration with the Jakarta Islamic Hospital (RSIJ) Cempaka Putih conducted Volunteer Training for Advanced First Aid which took place from March 27, 2024, to May 3, 2024, at the KH Ahmad Dahlan Auditorium RSIJ Cempaka Putih.

H.E. Faisal el Amudi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, said that the Volunteer Training programme demonstrates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's significant role in providing humanitarian social assistance. "This programme reflects the important role of Saudi Arabia in the world in providing humanitarian assistance and social assistance. This is a humanitarian volunteer activity and also a collaboration built by KS Relief with hospitals in Jakarta," uttered Ambassador Faisal el Amudi said on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Dr Amer Al Anzi who acted as a training facilitator explained that the volunteer training taught participants emergency handling techniques, first aid for heart attacks, to various other medical treatments. "In the KS Relief training, there is training for heart rate, emergency room, patient handling methods and dealing with all matters related to mental and medical health," said Dr Amer Al Anzi.

The Volunteer Training for Advanced First Aid at RSIJ is the fourth training conducted by KS Relief in Indonesia. This year's training participants reached 490 people. "We have conducted this event four times in Indonesia, and we want to conduct other events in the future. We have reached 490 trainees for this event," continued Dr Amer Al Anzi.

The Volunteer Training aims to develop the technical medical skills of the Indonesian people. "This is to develop or advance the skills to the medical team at RS Islam Jakarta and exchange knowledge between KS Relief and the people of Indonesia represented by RS Islam Jakarta," concluded Dr Amer Al Anzi.