VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Sulawesi Island offers endless natural beauty. Sulawesi Island are beaches and sea, and without exception Gorontalo province. In this province, you can find amazing panorama namely Sarond island. The beauty of its nature is often paralleled with Maldives. The beach on Saronde Island is so beautiful with clean white sand and clear blue water. It makes the beach often be paralleled with Maldives. On the beach, tourists can do many things. Besides exploring the beach, they can also enjoy snorkeling and this will be unforgettable experience. Because, on Saronde island’s beach, there are a lot of colorful fishes which are swimming through exotic coral reefs. There are also water sport rides such as banana boat. To visit Saronde island, you do not have to worry to be starving because there are various kinds of foods which are sold by the local people. They also sell unique crafts as souvenirs. On Saronde Island, tourists can set a tent for camping to enjoy the beauty of the beach longer. For tourists who want to stay at night, there is also cottage. The fee to stay in the cottage is relatively cheap around Rp 150,000 per night. Saronde Island is located at Kwandang sub-district, North Gorontalo regency. The island with only one kilometer wide has a distance 65 kilometers from Gorontalo city. From Gorontalo to Kwandang seaport, it takes around 2 hours by car.  From the seaport, the trip is continued by using speed boat which can accommodate 10 people.  The trip to Saronde Island takes around 15 minutes. Arriving at the island, tourists must pay entrance fee around  Rp 10,000 per person. 

Indonesia and Singapore agreed to increase investment cooperation and vocational education, especially for the industrial sector. The condition will strengthen partnership between the two countries, in order to complete enormous economic potential. This was stated by Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta, Sunday (18/2) in the Ministry’s release. The statement responded the meeting of Minister Airlangga Hartarto with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, recently at the Ministry of Industry, Jakarta. Minister Airlangga moreover stated, that Singapore is one of the neighboring countries that has a strategic role for the interests of Indonesia or the region. In the field of investment, the Ministry has encouraged Singapore to continue the development of industrial parks in other regions of Indonesia, which has integrated concept like Kendal Industrial Area in Central Java. Indonesia offers Tanah Kuning or Yellow Land in North Kalimantan, Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra, and Bitung in North Sulawesi. The Kendal Industrial Area, which was officially opened by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on November 14, 2016, is a joint project between Indonesian and Singaporean industrialists. The investment value in the 2,700 hectares area reaches 360 million US dollars. Minister Airlangga said, until January 2018, Kendal Industrial Area has attracted 39 investors from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Japan by absorbing nearly 2,000 workers. The companies run their businesses in furniture, food, food packaging, steel, label printing and dolls industries. In addition to increase investment, Indonesia and Singapore also established a synergy in the development of human resources competency through vocational education, such as the development of Polytechnic of Furniture and Wood Processing Industry in Kendal Industrial Estate. The industry is planned to open the acceptance of 96 new students for three study programs this year. The commitment of cooperation in the field of vocational education is also implemented through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Indonesia Minister of Industry with the Minister of Education of Singapore, Technical Arrangement between the Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry with the Director of Singapore Institute of Technical Education, and Collaborative Agreement between the Head of Industrial Education and Training Center with ITE Education Services of Singapore. Furthermore, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto said that 25 headmasters and teachers from Vocational High School from Indonesia will attend leadership training in Singapore ITE Campus. This Leadership Training Workshop was held at the ITE Singapore Campus from February 19 to March 3, 2018. The training participants consisted of productive teachers in the field of machinery, electrical power utilization techniques, and industrial automation techniques. They come from Vocational High School in Aceh Province, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Indonesia to Venezuela concurrently Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Grenada and Saint Lucia, Mochammad Luthfie Witto'eng, handed over Credentials to  Governor General of Saint Lucia, Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac. The handover was held on Monday (19/2) at Government House. In his speech, ambassador Luthfie conveyed President Joko Widodo’s warm regard to the Governor General, Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac, the government and people of Saint Lucia. In addition, ambassador Luthfie also conveyed that bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Saint Lucia runs smoothly. It is marked with the increase of trade total value in recent years. Besides that, Indonesia and Saint Lucia geographically have similarity as an archipelagic country. It also which makes the two countries have similarity in views on international issues which become concern of the two countries, such as climate change, disaster management and renewable energy sources. The expansion of bilateral relationship between the two countries has been implemented in mutual support efforts on the candidacy of each party in various international organizations and forums. Ambassador Luthfie also conveyed his hope that the relation of the two countries can continue to increase. Meanwhile, Governor General Saint Lucia in his speech conveyed his hope that Indonesia-Saint Lucia bilateral relation which has been established, can increase in various sectors.  Potential cooperation are among others in the field of economy, tourism, education, disaster management and agriculture. The effors to increase the cooperation can be started by an agreement of the two countries in an MoU. The Governor General believed that under ambassador Mochammad Luthfie Witto'eng leadership, bilateral relation of the two countries will continue to increase.

The Indonesian embassy’s participation on Salon des Femmes Chefs d'Entreprise/SEF (Women Entrepreneurs Fair) at Sfax city on February 13-18 attracted the invitees and visitors. In addition to promoting Indonesian tourism and traditional crafts’ products, the Indonesian Embassy in Tunis

also opened a booth of Indonesian typical foods provided by Dharma Wanita Persatuan or Woman Association of the Indonesian embassy in Tunis. Indonesian student association in Tunisia also enlivened the event by performing 3 traditional dances, namely Lenggang Nyai, Maumere and Poco-Poco. The dances which were performed during lunch were able to make the audience amazed. They also danced poco-poco together with the dancers. In his remarks, Charge d'Affaires Ad Interim of the Indonesian Embassy in Tunis conveyed his gratitude to the committee who has invited the Indonesian embassy in Tunis to participate in the event and asserted the participation indicated the wish of Indonesia  to tighten relationships with Tunisia. Hopefully, the existence of the Indonesian embassy in the event can contribute to push economic or cultural cooperation with various parties in Tunisia, including with Regional Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs Sfax.

The Indonesian ambassador in Amman, cooperated with Indonesian Directorate of Human Rights has held dialog with United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) with Indonesian human activist. The dialog was held to explore the potential of Indonesian participation in the campaign of #DignityIsPriceless and financial support for UNRWA. The meeting was opened by Indonesian ambassador to Jordan and Palestine, Andy Rachmianto. On the occasion, the Indonesian ambassador mentioned the importance of funding from UNRWA in efforts to meet the basic and sustainable needs of about 5.3 million Palestinian refugees, financial crisis situation which is faced by UNRWA, and also negative impact on efforts to fulfill the need of Palestinian refugees. Then, he also mentioned human and solidarity diplomacy on Palestine as priority of Indonesian President, and also the importance to create a humanitarian alliance of Indonesiafor Palestine, as shown in handling humanitarian crisis  in other countries , such as Bangladesh and Myanmar. Director of Planning of UNRWA, who is also Chairman of Task Force for Global Emergency Appeal campaign, Mr. Abdi Aynte conveyed several points among others: appreciation on the role of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs’ ministry, especially the Indonesian embassy in Amman, and Indonesian humanitarian activist who have existed for Palestinian refugees. Besides that, the importance to explore potential the sustainable partnership between UNRWA and non-governmental organization of Indonesian humanitarian among others by using memomentum of the upcoming Ramadhan fasting month.The Dialog resulted a number of recommendations which can be explored by the Indonesian government and non-governmental humanitarian organization in supporting global Emergency Appeal of UNRWA campaign which ends in June 2018. Some of them are the need to explore a possibility to hold Palestine Month or Palestine Week to increase people’s understanding on Palestinian refugees’ situation and efforts done by Indonesia

North Sumatra People’s figure with the nick name friend of all tribes, Syamsul Arifin, will be inaugurated to be guardian of the people of North Sumatra‎. Syamsul Arifin is selected to be guardian of the people according to the aspiration of the people in North Sumatra. They expected a figure as inspirator, motivator, creator, and innovator who could motivate all potential for North Sumatra’s improvement and welfare. It was said by former Chairman of National Committee of Indonesian Youth in North Sumatra, Firdaus Nasution in Medan, on Tuesday (20/2). According to Firdaus, Syamsul Arifin’s personality could represent all elements of people because Syamsul has enough experiences as lawmaker, regent for two periods, governor, chairman of the party and the supreme leader of people’s organization. Therefore Firdaus also said, the figure of Syamsul is appropriate to hold the title guardian of the people. Syamsul Arifin’s inauguration will be attended by North Sumatra governor, Tengku Erry Nuradi, all elements of North Sumatra people, leader of political party, ethnical organization, chief of media, organizations of communities concurrent with the inauguration of the board of Alumni Association of North Sumatra National Youth Committee 2017-2020, in Medan, 24 February.

West Nusa Tenggara continues to expand Islamic tourism destination. According to West Nusa Tenggara governor, Tuan Guru Bajang DR. Zainul Majdi, Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara become highlight and segment of Muslim Family Tourism. This was stated by governor Zainul Majdi in his speech to the National Working Conference of Muslim Journalists Forum in Mataram, on Tuesday (20/2). The governor hoped Indonesia will expand Muslim Family Tourism in other regions. Zainul Majdi appreciated Muslim journalists who do not only discuss related to fiqh. There are missionaries with their written entering constructive ideas for people. The governor hoped the Islamic tourism destinations will be able to increase people’s economy, especially West Nusa Tenggara people.

Post office in Solo takes advantage the momentum of Asian Games 2018 event to sell Asian Games edition stamp. This was stated by Manager of Finance of Gladak Solo Post office, Imron Rosadi, in Solo, on Tuesday (20/2). According to Imron Rosadi, because the stamp is stuff of post office’s collection, so it will not print similar serial at other times, although the stamps have been sold out. From 4 serials which are launched by post office of Indonesia, Solo post office only sells 3 serials, namely Mini Sheet, Souvenir Sheet or Carik Kenangan, and Sampul Hari Pertama. For Souvenir Sheet, special Solo post office only prints 500 sets for Jakarta and Palembang 500 sets. Nationally, those serials are printed as many as 7,500 sets of Jakarta’s edition and 7,500 sets for Palembang’s edition with price 15 thousands rupiah per set. Imron said for serial of Sampul Hari Pertama is printed as many as 1,500 sets, and the Solo city only prints 20 sets with the price of 37 thousand rupiah per set. Imron Rosadi hoped by releasing Asian Games edition stamp, philately’s world will be more shiny and growing and experiencing a significant increase. That was Mosaic of Indonesia.