VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian people in Australia enlivened the Moomba 2020 Parade in Melbourne, Australia by performing  various traditional archipelago clothes (09/03/2020).  In 2020,  the Indonesian people are divided into 2 groups coordinated by the Saman Melbourne Studio and the Indonesian Diaspora Network Victoria (IDN) Victoria). Harryvan Marpaung who as a creative designer of the Indonesian contingent's traditional clothing explained that  the cloths used by the Indonesian people at the 2020 Moomba Parade was the result of development, modification of  traditional cloths  in order to be more merily which is based on the atmosphere of Moomba Parade's festivity.  Coordinator of Victoria, Sulistyawan Wibisono stated that to  enliven the Indonesian contingent at the Moomba Festival Parade, his side also brought the Garuda Emas  and a pair of Ondel-Ondel costumes from Indonesia.

Indonesia keeps on communicating  to map the number of Indonesian citizens who are in Italy after the announcement of a "lockdown" to  the all territories of the country as a quarantine effort to overcome the corona virus. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java stated on  Tuesday that the Foreign Ministry continuously monitors the condition of Indonesian citizens in Italy from time to time.  Minister Retno explained  that currently all countries are getting busy with developments of the virus  which keeps happening.  Nevertheless,  the country has obligation to pay attention the safety of its citizens.  

Indonesian Community in New Zealand, Indonesia-Garuda Blenheim New Zealand (Garuda BNZ) enlivened the Malborough Multicultural Festival (MMF) by performing Indonesian traditional  dances (07/03/2020).  Garuda BNZ also served Indonesian typical foods such as grilled chicken, rendang rice, risoles, rolled omelette and bakwan.  On the main stage, Garuda BNZ performed Maumere  and Merak dances interactively, so that the dances were followed by the visitors.  Garuda BNZ also wore traditional clothes and showed parade of the regional traditional clothes. The biennial event was organized by the Malborough City Council and was attended by  Coordinators and staffs of Social and Cultural Affairs Function of the Indonesian Embassy. The committees of MMF expressed their gratitude over the  presence and participation of Indonesia that performed various culture and arts of Indonesia.

Currently, there are 3.6 million traditional shops in Indonesia need to be empowered because they are families’ economic backbone amidst pressure from retailers. That was stated by Minister of Cooperatives and Small Medium Enterprises Teten Masduki after the launching of Bukalapak Partner’s Latest Virtual Program in Bandung, West Java on Sunday (March8).

Teten Masduki appreciated the effort by e-commerce startups which had empowered small-medium enterprises or traditional shops in Indonesia. Teten also said, with support from digital platform, traditional shop owners had increased number and types of products they sell. Besides that, the market reach can also be wider with competitive price. Not only selling daily needs, they can also be agent for electricity bill payment, money transfer, and many other.

About corona virus outbreak, Teten Masduki believed that the affected sectors are industry which import raw material. The impact was even felt internationally. However, the corona outbreak became opportunity for Small Medium Enterprises -SME, because many products with imported materials, including consumption, can be replaced by SME products.

According to Euromonitor International in 2018, most people in Indonesia, India, and Philippines shop in traditional grocery stores. From the total retail market value around 7.5 million trillion Rupiahs, 6.85 million trillion Rupiahs or 92 percent of them were transaction at traditional stores.

Teten Masduki explained, capital facility for SMEs is needed in this chance by allocating fund from banks, so that SMEs can increase production capacity. This year, budget allocated for SMEs funding is more than 220 trillion rupiah

Therefore, Teten Masduki asked SME players not to worry. Covid-19 outbreak must be a moment to get better condition. Even if economic slowdown happened, SMEs must be able to take over. He added, there must be support from regional and central government as well as massive funding. Therefore, 18 ministries that handle SME have to hold consolidation. Cooperatives and SME Minsitry will make acceleration, so that SMEs can be the mainstay and savior during crisis, just like in 1998 economic crisis. At that time, SMEs saved Indonesia with export value increased for 350 percent.

Kangean islands are located in the Eastern part of Madura Island, East Java province. The islands consist of several islands: Kangean, Sapeken, Saebus and Mambrut islands. Kangean Islands cover an area of 487 square kilometers.

Although the islands enter in the area of Sumenep regency on Madura Island and also located in the Northern part of Bali Island, there are many some differences among Kangean, Madura and Bali. Kangean people mention themselves as Kangean people whose language is different from Madurese and Balinese languages.

Kangean islands have beautiful beach with under-sea panorama. Various kinds of fish color the undersea nature. On the islands, there are beautiful coral reefs.

Because of their beauty, Kangean islands used to be recorded as place of the best fifth coral reef in Indonesia. You can rent a boat to go around the islands. Usually, the ship's captain also serves as a guide. 

If you want to travel to Kangean Islands by public transportation from Surabaya, you have to take the route from Bungurasih Terminal to Sumenep Terminal. This takes about 4 hours.

Then, from Sumenep Terminal, you must rent public transportation to Kalianget seaport. Arriving at Kalianget seaport, you must go by speed boat to cross to Kangean around 4 to 5 hours.

A dagger or Kris owned by Prince Diponegoro, which was reportedly unknown, was finally found and returned to Indonesia. This Kris was found in the Volkenkunde Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands, and a few days later, it was immediately handed over to the Indonesian National Museum. This Kris has been received by Indonesian Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague. On Thursday (5/30). He handed it over directly to the Head of the Indonesian National Museum, Siswanto. On 10^th of March, the Kris named Kiai Nogo Siluman will be exhibited at the meeting of Dutch King Willem-Alexander with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The historical dagger will be also exhibited, especially at the National Museum, along with other Prince Diponegoro’s heirloom stuffs. They are stuffs which were returned in 1978, namely spears, horse saddles and honor umbrellas.

To keep promoting Rendang worldwide, the city government of  Payakumbuh in West Sumatera signed 2 memoranda of understanding of cooperation related to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of Payakumbuh. The MoU was signed in Payakumbuh, on Saturday (7/3) by Mayor of Payakumbuh, Riza Falepi, Director of Indonesian Representative of Malaysian Small Business Entrepreneurship Board, Teuku Eddy Faisal Rusydi. One of the MoU was signed by representatives of Cooperative of Randang Saiyo Wawako Center, Erwin Yunaz and PT. Imza Risky Jaya Jakarta, Dr. Rizayati. Malaysian Small Business Entrepreneurship Board has more than 50,000 companies which export to 20 countries as their marketing networks. The Board is attracted to facilitate the products to transit in Malaysia and then, the products are continued to other 20 countries.

Bank Indonesia and Bank of Korea signed an extension of bilateral currency swap arrangement cooperation (BCSA) worth KRW 10.7 trillion or Rp115 trillion which is valid effectively on March 6, 2020–March 5, 2023 and it can be extended on the agreement of the two sides. The signing was conducted by Governor of Bank Indonesia, Perry Warjiyo, and Governor of Bank of Korea, Juyeol Lee in Jakarta, on Thursday (March 5). The cooperation enables swap local currencies among the two central banks. The goals of the agreement are to encourage bilateral trade and to strengthen financial cooperation which is useful for economic development of the two countries.