VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Chinese New Year celebration in Solo, Central Java is so vibrant. There are 5,000 lanterns adorn the city of Solo, especially in the complex of Pasar Gede, Jenderal Sudirman street and Urip Sumoharjo street. Moreover, the majestic Lunar gate is also installed along the road between City Hall and Pasar Gede, during the Lunar New Year celebration in Solo. The location of Pasar Gede actually becomes the center of Imlek celebration in Solo.

At the peak of Chinese New Year celebrations, 12 zodiacs, 12 neon nox sho, five dog lanterns, god fortune lantern, and werkudoro lanterns are also installed on Jenderal Sudirman street. In addition to beautify the city of Solo with various Lunar ornaments, various series of events were also presented to enliven the Lunar New Year 2569. At the peak of the event, the Solo government also held Grebeg Sudiro and Festival Jenang.

On February11, thousands of people packed the area of Jalan Urip Sumoharjo and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman. They came to watch the cultural caravan of Grebeg Sudiro. The unification caravan of Chinese-Javanese society began at 2 p.m. Grebeg Sudiro is a celebration which is organized prior to the Chinese New Year (Imlek) which features nine gunungan or offerings containing crops and basket cakes, the special cake of Chinese New Year celebration.

The two offerings are in the form of miniature of Monument 45 Banjarsari, the mayor's office, Loji Gandrung and a miniature of Pasar Gede. The Caravan was started from Pasar Gede - Jenderal Sudirman street - Mayor Kusmanto street - Lojiwetan junction - Kapten Mulyadi street – RE Martadinata intersection - Cut Nyak Dien street - Juanda street - Warung Pelem junction - Urip Sumoharjo street and back to Pasar Gede. After paraded, the residents were fighting for kue keranjang or the basket cakes.

Grebeg Sudiro is a mixture tradition of Chinese and Javanese communities. The word ‘grebeg’ is a typical Javanese tradition to welcome special days in Indonesia such as: Mulud (birth of Prophet Muhammad), Syawal (Eid’l Fitr), Eid’l Adha, and Suro (Javanese New Year).The peak of the Lunar New Year celebration, when the fighting for gunungan which is arranged to form a mountain. The moment was based on Javanese ‘ora babah ora mamah’ philosophy which means, no effort, no eat. Meanwhile, the shape of the mountain according to the Javanese people’s belief means gratitude to the Almighty God.

Grebeg Sudiro Tradition is held annually in Sudiroprajan area. Sudiroprajan is an urban village at Jebres subdistrict, Solo. In this region, ethnic Chinese have inhabited for decades and settled alongside the Javanese community. As the time goes by, there was a marriage between the two ethnic groups, then born a new generation. To show the acculturation between the two ethnics, then they held a new tradition called Grebeg Sudiro which was firstly held in 2007.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo appreciated the momentum of economic growth with its better trend. From 5.06 percent in the third quarter of 2017, the economy grew to 5.19 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. President Joko Widodo wants the trend of economic growth continue to increase in 2018. President Joko Widodo at the Plenary Cabinet Session, at the State Palace Jakarta, on Monday (12/2) said that the government sees the step of Indonesian exports, especially coal comodity. Similarly, household consumption is also expected to improve, in line with the implementation of Cash Advance programs in some areas.

President Joko Widodo also reminded that investment and exports are the key to drive Indonesian economy. Therefore, the President requested that Indonesia continue to improve the business climate and to invest from the central to the regional level.

President Joko Widodo moreover said, Indonesia is competing with other countries that are also taking similar steps like what Indonesia do. Indonesia should not be careless if it does not want to be left behind from other countries, which offers better business climate. In addition to investment, President Joko Widodo also reminded that the country’s export contributed 20.37 percent of the Gross Domestic Product GDP. This should be improved by many breakthrough steps, beginning from accelerating the resolution of barriers faced by Indonesian exporters, and also to start involving businessmen and state-owned enterprises to work non-traditional export markets .

The President has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold non-traditional exhibitions abroad starting next year. The events should be started early next year in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Africa with high number of population and high economic growth. The President called ambassadors, Consulate Generals, and the Trade Attaches to strengthen economic diplomacy, strengthen economic intelligence to spearhead their promotion, investment space, and must be observant to see export opportunities.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Darmin Nasution, stated that Indonesia's economic growth target should be realized. When the world economy is starting to rise, Indonesia should be able to take advantage of the situation. Darmin Nasution said, if Indonesia only relies on domestic economic factors, then the economic growth of Indonesia only reached 5 percent. Therefore, Indonesia should take advantage of world economic growth to contribute its economic growth.

Minister Darmin Nasution also stressed the importance of support for investment, namely business climate and improvements of licensing. He said, the Ministry of Economy continues to resolve issues related to the investments.

East Nusa Tenggara province -NTT is well known with tourism destinations. Besides Komodo Island, the beauty of beaches and exotic under-sea view becomes tourists’ destinations. But there are a lot of tourism destinations which are still natural and hidden. One of them is Matayangu waterfall. Matayangu waterfall consists of two waterfalls. The first waterfall has height around 75 meters and its water is from river in the cave. The second one will appear when rainy season comes. Its water is from river that is above as high as 130 meters. Just below the waterfall, there is small pool with amazing blue water which is used as bathing place. The best time to visit the waterfall is at the time of rainy season or in March until June, and October until December. Matayangu waterfall is located at Manupe national park. The waterfall itself for local people is sacred place. The place is often used for worship by Merapu people. They believe that the waterfall is place where their ancestors live. In addition, they also believe that in the cave which becomes water sources, there is ancient tomb which stores historical stuffs. Matayangu waterfall is located at  Waimanu village, Katikutana sub-district, Central Sumba regency. To go to this place, from Kupang, you take around 1 hour by using airplane to Waingapu. Then, the trip is continued by using motor vehicles around 2 hours to Waikabubak. Arriving at Waikabubak, the trip is continued to Manupe national park and takes around 3 hours. Here, you must walk through forest around 1 hour. But your fatigue will disappear after you see the beauty of Matayangu waterfall.

President Joko Widodo officially opened the Working Meeting of Indonesian Representative Heads with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Jakarta, Monday (12/5). According to President Joko Widodo, the peace diplomacy by Indonesia received appreciation by the world leaders, namely Palestinian President, Iranian President, and Afghanistan President. In regard to fulfilling the constitutional mandate Indonesia also continously assist the peace and development in various countries such as Palestine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. President Joko Widodo asked Foreign Affairs Minister and all representative heads to continue Indonesian contribution for peace and humanity. As a country with most moderate and plural Muslim population, as well as third biggest country in the world, the President said Indonesia has responsibility to be part of global solution. President emphasized, the people of Indonesia hoped their diplomats can fight for the interests of Indonesia. Therefore, new approach of diplomacy must be adjusted to the current challenges. Diplomacy must be quick and responsive. 

More than 600 people visited Indonesian Pavilion during international tourism promotion event entitled "La Borsa Internazionale del Turismo (BIT) Milano 2018' in Milano, Italy, on Sunday (11/2). In BIT Milano 2018, Indonesian Embassy in Rome as the Indonesian Pavilion coordinator cooperated with six tour operators from Italy and Indonesia, with various services and destination. The press statement of Indonesian Embassy in Rome, as quoted by Antara in Jakarta, Monday (12/2) stated, besides Bali and Lombok that had long been well-known, Tanjung Puting, Komodo Island, Tana Toraja, and Raja Ampat received more attention during the biggest tourism expo in Italy.

Trade Atache of the Indonesian Embassy, Sumber Sinabutar, believed the support for Indonesian tour industry promotion will not only increase foreign tourist visits, but also double the positive impact for Indonesian service trade. Besides that, Indonesian Ad Interim Charge d'Affaires Charles Hutapea said, integrated promotion is a key that makes Indonesia becoming more widely known in Italy. Currently, Italy is the fifth biggest source of foreign tourists from Western Europe to Indonesia.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati received award as the World's Best Minister during World Government Summit 2018 held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The award was given by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates recently. The Best Minister Award held since 2016, is an annual global award given to ministers around the globe.  The selection process was carried out independently by Ernst & Young and held by the World Governemnt Summit. The Summit itself is an annual meeting held in Dubai, attended by goverment heads from accross the globe. They discuss government process and public policies, as well as their relation to technology, innovation, economic policy, and many others. The aim was to improve the lives of 7 billion global residents and pursuit happiness for all people.

Indonesian Finance Minster Sri Mulyani in her remark said the award was a recognition of Indonesian government's collective effort under President Joko Widodo, especially in economy. She also dedicated the awards for 257 million people of Indonesia and more than 78 thousand staffs of Finance Ministry who had worked hard to manage state finance with high integrity and commitment to create equal and just people's welfare.