VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

As many as 17 types of Indonesian coffees were promoted and served in the Indonesian Coffee Cupping event that was held by the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo, Norway. This aimed at increasing Indonesian coffee exports to the country. The Indonesian Embassy in Oslo in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday explained that  the types of Indonesian coffees introduced are like Gayo, Sidikalang, Enrekang, Toraja, Kintamani, and Papua. The event attended by coffee tasters from six leading coffee roasters in Norway was organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo, in collaboration with the Norwegian Coffee Association, Norsk Kaffeinformasjon and it was supported by the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in London.

Indonesian Ambassador to Norway, Todung Mulya Lubis stated that this coffee flavor exploration event was to promote and encourage Indonesian coffee exports to Norway. This event was the contributions of 14 Indonesian coffee producers and exporters from Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sulawesi, Toraja, Bali and Papua.

In spite of having a population of only 5.4 million people, Norway is the second highest coffee consuming country per capita in the world, with an average consumption of 9.9 kilograms per person. Nine out of ten Norwegians drink coffee every day. The coffee consumed by Norwegians is arabica coffee, with a market share of 97 percent, while robusta coffee is only 3 percent, particularly used as a blend. Norway only imports raw coffee beans.

Not even a month since the new Taliban government took control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the cabinet formed and announced on Wednesday (7/9) local time by the Taliban was considered by many to be a conservative and non-inclusive cabinet.

The cabinet was considered not to have fulfilled the Taliban's promise when declaring its victory in Afghanistan. Previously, the Taliban had promised to form an inclusive and representative government. But among 33 officials of their new government, not a single one is a woman. In addition, all of them are members or figures who have relations with the Taliban.

Quoting Antara News Agency, Head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ali Shamkhani said that  the Taliban government has clearly shown no respect for human rights, especially women. For example, they prohibit Afghan women, including the country's cricket team, from carrying out sports activities.

In addition, the Taliban also do not allow demonstrations and other protests unless they have permission from the authorities.

Tehran has previously called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, with the participation of all political and ethnic groups in the country. Ali Shamkhani also expressed concern over foreign interference and the use of military means in addressing the demands of Afghanistan's various ethnic groups.

Apart from Tehran, a number of countries, such as the United States, the European Union, Qatar and Indonesia said that the new government formed by the Taliban had failed to fulfill their promise to build an inclusive government, a government that is able to accept various forms of diversity and difference.

The absence of women in the Afghan government certainly raises questions about the Taliban's commitment to protecting and respecting the rights of women and girls. The commitment that has been conveyed is clearly the wrong signal about their purported goal of building an inclusive, strong and prosperous society.

The world is waiting for the Taliban to realize their promises and commitments to international law, while hoping that Afghan society will become an open society. The Taliban government should not protect or become a base for terrorist groups inside or outside Afghanistan.

Indonesia is one of the countries with the biggest digital economy power in the world. According to a report released by Temasek, Google, and Bain & Co in 2019, Indonesian digital economic growth is predicted to reach 49 percent year on year; while e-commerce growth will surpass US$130 billion in 2025. 

Minister of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi said on June that Indonesian digital economy is projected to grow by eight folds in 2030 namely from Rp 632 trillion into Rp 4,531 trillion. E-commerce will also play a great role by reaching 34% or around Rp 1,900 trillion.

Digital economy is one of national saviors amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It keeps growing despite some sectors being sluggish. Therefore, all national elements must maintain the momentum of the ongoing digital economic growth in Indonesia.

The Indonesian government, as stated by Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga on Tuesday (7/9), keeps supporting digital economic growth through funding, training for digital economy business people, digital transformation, and personal data protection.

Personal data protection is crucial in creating a sense of security for customers. Personal data must be well-guarded. One's privacy rights must be guaranteed.

Basically, Indonesia has already owned laws that protect personal data confidentiality, such as the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (UU ITE), that regulates personal data use based on the consent of the person; and the Population Administration Law that also regulates personal data. Similar regulations on personal data protection are also written in other legal documents, such as the Communication and Informatics Ministerial Decree.

However, a more comprehensive law is still needed to be able to regulate more detail on how the protection is implemented, such as the responsibility of the personal data controller in protecting user's personal data, followed by the punishment for neglect or violation.

A comprehensive Personal Data Protection Bill is being discussed by the House of Representatives -DPR. This bill is expected to pay attention to the dynamics in the national digital economy. Thus if effective, the law can really protect and even encourage a more rapid digital economic growth.

The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt encourages Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, which have great potential to become actors in the sharia economy and the halal industry. So, they can make use of the market opportunities to export food products, processed foods, and other halal industrial products in Egypt. Therefore, the Indonesian Embassy facilitated an exhibition of Indonesian products in a series of business meetings in Luxor City, Egypt on Monday (6/9). The exhibition showcased the specialties of Indonesian woven fabrics, food and beverage products, varieties of Arabica and Robusta coffee, cooking spices, handicrafts, and strategic industrial products. In the exhibition, Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf was a speaker at the seminar and business meeting “Indonesia-Egypt Update, Pandemic and Economic Recovery; Ways to Move Ahead."

Ambassador Lutfi Rauf in his written statement received by Antara News Agency on Tuesday (7/9) said that Egypt is a strategic trading partner for Indonesia. The trade of both countries continues to grow amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stated that the total value of trade between the two countries also increased by US$785 million or an increase of 37.4 percent from January to May 2021 compared to US$571 million in the same period last year. In addition, Ambassador Lutfi also highlighted the close relationship between Indonesia and Egypt that has existed before Indonesian independence, which was marked by the existence of a student dormitory from Indonesia in the Al-Azhar University complex. This closeness continues to be a shared commitment in building relations with Egypt.

During the exhibition, Deputy Governor of Luxor Province, Mohamed Abdel Kader Khairi visited the booth of the Islamic Boarding School's Trade and Business Incubation Association (ASDIN) which exhibited Islamic boarding school products. He appreciated Al-Azhar alumni who developed business cooperation between Indonesia and Egypt. The Luxor local government hopes that the cooperation between the two countries will continue and enhance partnerships in the fields of trade, Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, and a number of other fields.

Zainur Rofiq as Chairman of ASDIN Islamic boarding school and member of Go Export Indonesia who was also present at the seminar expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, which has provided an opportunity to market ASDIN’s products, which currently reach 1,070 products.