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On 22nd September 2018, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java has just inaugurated Taman Gandrung Terakota -TGT. The tourism icon of Bayuwangi that will attract young tourists has hundreds of Gandrung dance statues. The park becomes special because it was built at terrace rice fields under Mt. Ijen located in Jiwa Jawa Ijen Resort,  Licin sub-district, Banyuwangi. According to  Sigit Pramono, an initiator of Taman Gandrung Terakota, the  park is a site to preserve and reconcile   Gandrung dance  as one of cultural identities of Banyuwangi. Moreover, he said that Gandrung art is a form of gratitude of flourishing agriculture output. Therefore, the site of Rawat Tari Gandrung is located at rice farming where the farmers keep plowing rice field by buffalo, planting and cropping paddy. Taman Gandrung Terakota is inspired by Terracotta Warrior and Horses in China, which was built at Qin Shi Huang during the emperor era in 259-210 BC. The setting involved art curators from Galeri Nasional Indonesia and a lecturer of   Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta, Dr. Suwarno Wisetrotomo. There are about 1,000 statues of Gandrung dance at the Park. The statues are placed separately and collectively. The park is called ‘Terakota’ because it is another name of pottery that is used as a basic material of visualization for Gandrung dance. Models of statue at Taman Gandrung Terakota are taken by a photographer, Sigit’s photos. Then, the photos were created to be statues by Budi Santoso artist and were printed by statue makers in Kasongan, Yogyakarta. The statues were made manually one by one. Even though they have the same formation, there are some differences. The major differences are facial expressions and smiles of Gandrung dance. The statues were made of pottery, such as burned clay. It was made of pottery because the pottery has strong philosophy related to Gandrung dance, it is meant to be closer with nature based on the philosophy of life. If you are in Taman Gandrung Terakota, you can enjoy beauty of Mt. Ijen whose height is 2.443 meters above sea level at the west side. Mt. Ijen has crater which radiates blue flame globally. Looking at the east side, there is blue aura of Bali strait. You can enjoy not only a series of statues of Gandrung dance, but also green hills and terrace rice fields, farmers’ plowing rice field, coffee farm, durian trees, various kinds of bamboos and local endemic plants at the park. There are open amphitheaters for scheduled-art show of and Jazz music exhibition at the middle of the park.

Indonesian Ministry of Industry continues to encourage the export of handicraft products by facilitating the Small and Medium Industries engaged in the sector to promote to various countries. Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto after attending the opening of the Kriyanusa Exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center -JCC in Jakarta, Wednesday, 26/9-2018, as quoted by Antara News Agency, said that export potential continues to be encouraged, because many handicrafts have pretty good markets abroad. He also pointed out that the exhibition which is held every year displays handicraft products with better quality so that Indonesian handicraft products are increasingly known to the world. He emphasized that his Ministry has facilitated 15 Small and Medium Industries to participate in the exhibition inaugurated by Chairperson of the National Craft Council -Dekranas, Mufidah Jusuf Kalla and attended by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo. Thousands of Indonesian handicraft products are exhibited in Kriyanusa 2018, which was initiated by the National Craft Council (Dekranas). Mufidah Jusuf Kalla in the opening remarks of Kriyanusa 2018 emphasized that this industry has a very strategic role in the national economy because historically, it is very closely related to the daily life of the Indonesian people. According to Mufidah, the handicraft products can be a mainstay of the regional economy and livelihoods for local people. The craft industry can utilize natural resources and develop community creativity. Mufidah also remarked that cultural and artistic wealth in Indonesia is an inspiration and development of handicraft products. Therefore, it is a shared responsibility to continue to maintain, to explore, and to develop while enriching the creativity of Indonesian handicraft products originating from Indonesian cultural arts. She added that the elements of creation, innovation and technology need to be improved to maintain the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market. Kriyanusa 2018 is held from 26 to 30 September 2018. Around 350 participants take part by displaying thousands of handicraft products from each region. A number of handicraft products on display include jewelry stones, batik fabrics, woven fabrics, Songket fabrics, Jumputan fabrics, ceiling lamps or hanging lamps, snake skin bags, as well as household items typical of Indonesian cultural arts. Meanwhile, Director General of Small and Medium Industries at the Ministry of Industry, Gati Wibawaningsih said that her side is aiming to increase the high export value in 2018. In 2017, the export value of the Small and Medium Industries’ products reached US$ 251 million dollars. In addition, the Ministry of Industry will also facilitate eight Small and Medium Industries from 15 Small and Medium Industries to attend the world's largest craft exhibition -Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany. At the previous Ambiente exhibition, Indonesia recorded a transaction worth US$705 thousand dollars in sales on the spot, while following orders from the event could reach US$11 million dollars. According to Gati Wibawaningsih, for the exhibition, the target will increase, because the global economy has also improved.

Researchers of Bandung Institute of Technology –ITB develop cockroach-shaped robots for silent intelligence operations. The superiority is that the robots can later do tapping and reconnaissance like in the movies. The development of the robots is based on the absence of insect-shaped robot technology that is marketed, except only for toy capacity. Meanwhile, the need for silent monitoring technology is in demand. The cockroach robots are developed by a team led by Augie Widyotriatmo Ph.D., from the Instrumentation and Control Expertise Group, the ITB Faculty of Industrial Technology and assisted by bachelor and magister students. The development was carried out at the Faculty of Industrial Technology Instrumentation and Metrology Laboratory. Augie Widyotriatmo explained that the cockroach robots are currently in the development stage. The function has been tested, but has not been placed into a cockroach-shaped cover. He targets that at the end of the year, the stage will  be finished. The robots are expected to be able to collect data and information needed more easily and precisely. Therefore, the Instrumentation and Control Expertise Group collaborates with the Bio media Animal Development and Animal Physiology Expertise Group. The cockroach robot has a nano controller device, a mini computer, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, a sensor, a 5-megapixel camera that can autofocus, and it is equipped with a microphone for sound tapping. It is also equipped with two motors as a driver and communication between one robot and another robot using connected Wi-Fi. In subsequent developments, the robot will be minimized because the current size is too big to be used as a surveillance device. Augie wants the cockroach robot to have a face tracking application or can follow the targeted human face. In its reconnaissance, this robot is looking for a location in the corner so it is not seen in the middle of the crowd.

Yogyakarta Special Region –DIY, which has a lot of tourism potentials, is strong in the field of culture, and is known in the world, such as Prambanan Temple, Geopark, and marine tourism. For the acceleration of tourism development, the Yogyakarta Regional Government has set a priority for tourism objects to be developed for domestic and foreign tourists. Head of Capacity Building Section of the Development Administration Bureau and Natural Resources Yogyakarta Regional Secretary, Doni Dwi Yogya Handoko said on Wednesday (26/9) that his side has set a prioritized portfolio in the Yogyakarta tourism sector. He emphasized that there are seven priority tourist destinations: the Keraton-Malioboro and its surroundings, the Prambanan-Ratu Boko Temple area and its surroundings, the slopes of Mt. Merapi and its surroundings, the Gunung Sewu Karst area and its surroundings. In addition, there are also the Parangtritis area, Depok-Kuwaru and surrounding areas, the Menoreh Mountains and surrounding areas, as well as the Kasongan-Tembi, Wukirsari and surrounding areas. As for the construction and development of target markets, seven Yogyakarta tourism priority destinations are targeted foreign tourists from the Netherlands, Japan, France, Germane, and ASEAN countries.

Besides successful achievements and implementation, the 2018 Asian Games held on August 18-September 2 has helped boost economic growth in Palembang, South Sumatra. Acting Governor of South Sumatra, Hadi Prabowo in the evaluation of the 2018 Asian Games, Wednesday (26/9) said that South Sumatra's economic growth in 2018 increases to 5.51 percent compared to 2017 which reached 5,027 percent. Even South Sumatra's economic growth is above Indonesia's economic growth that reached 5.07 percent. The wider impact of organizing the 2018 Asian Games also covers other fields, such as infrastructure development, increased tourism and hospitality industry. While other impacts are on the field of cultural exchange, cooperation among provinces and countries, as well as providing education for the community on the implementation of the 2018 Asian Games. Furthermore, Hadi Prabowo said that in the infrastructure sector, Light Rail Train -LRT and 13 available stations will be integrated with other modes of transportation. Economic policy and regional stability in South Sumatra are quite stable with the implementation of two major events: the 2018 Asian Games and simultaneous general elections in 2018.

Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, Erzaldi Rosman said that the Asian Para Games (APG) 2018 torch relay in Pangkalpinang City could improve the enthusiasm of the people in the area to have exercise. He also said in Pangkalpinang on Wednesday that not all regions could get moments like this. He hoped that the Asian Para Games spirit would become global spirit. Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Ceremony Division of Indonesia Asian Para Games 2018 Organizing Committee –INAPGOC, Raja Sapta Oktohari said that the third Asian Para Games fire is the spirit of the Asian Para Games that had existed in Asia. According to him, the Asian Para Games is the most prestigious sporting event for people with disabilities in Asia. This is the most historic moment for Indonesia, because Indonesia hosts the Asian Para Games for the first time. Pangkalpinang City becomes the city of the seven Asian Para Games torch parades before ending in Jakarta.