VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) along with the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo promoted the Indonesian automotive component small and medium industries (SMEs) in Japan. Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in a press release received in Jakarta, Tuesday (28/6) said that small and medium industries must be promoted and become a strategic priority in the global automotive supply chain. Thereby, he greatly appreciates Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi over his proactive efforts to organize the business forum. This was conveyed in a key speech at the Indonesia - Japan Autoparts Business Forum which was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Monday ( 27/6). Japan is known to have become Indonesia's main partner in the automotive industry, which has contributed to the absorption of more than 1.5 million workers along the industrial supply value chain.

Ambassador Heri Akhmadi also said that with the announcement of the import substitution target of 35 percent by the Government of Indonesia, certainly, Indonesian automotive components of SMEs have a great opportunity to meet the needs of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) from various Japanese automotive manufacturers in Indonesia. A total of 30 Indonesian automotive componens of SMEs have the opportunity to promote in Japan. Most of these SMEs have also collaborated with Japan for a long period of time under the auspices of the Automotive Component Small-Medium Industry Association.

Meanwhile, Chairman of APINDO, Hariyadi B. Sukamdani said that he supported the development of small and medium industries, especially the automotive component sector to advance class by facilitating international cooperation through international trade and investment activities. In line with this mission, APINDO encourages the SMEs companies to participate in a business forum that brings together Indonesian automotive components of SMEs and Japanese business players or suppliers. Besides Minister Agus Gumiwang, Indonesia Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Dody Budi Waluyo was also present at the autoparts business forum in Nagoya. He explained the economic development of Indonesia to convince Japanese businesspeople of macroeconomic stability and investment opportunities that have been designed by the Government of Indonesia.

The Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires promotes Indonesian cuisine to the Argentinean community through the "Indonesia Spice Up the World" activity at the ASEAN Bazaar at Plaza Barrancas de Belgrano on Saturday (25/60). Thousands of people who flocked Plaza Barrancas de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, had the opportunity to taste Indonesian specialties and watched Angklung performances.

Indonesian Ambassador to Argentina, Niniek K. Naryatie said that the culinary promotion in Argentina was aimed at increasing demand for Indonesian food products and making Indonesian cuisine more widely known by the local residents. She hopes that in the future, there will be more exports of processed food from Indonesia, especially spices.

This year, the promotional activity of "Indonesia Spice Up the World" was presented at the ASEAN Bazaar, which is an annual festival held by the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires to introduce ASEAN in Argentina. Meanwhile, "Indonesia Spice Up the World" is a program by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to promote Indonesian food products throughout the world.

At the event, a noodle cart with the words "Indonesia" became the center of the culinary stand held by the Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires. The Culinary Stand Center served a variety of Indonesian dishes, including chicken noodles, tempeh curry, and tempeh chips.

According to the Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires, many visitors want to taste tempeh, because even though Argentina is the third largest soybean producer in the world, processed foods made from fermented soybeans are not widely available in Argentina.

Indonesian specialty coffee also enlivened the "Indonesia Spice Up the World" stand. In collaboration with the 2012 Argentinian best barista award, Daniel Cifuentes, the Indonesian Embassy serves Toraja and Mandailing coffee in an espresso style which is quite popular with visitors. The visitors to the Indonesian stand also made long queues to be able to taste a variety of Indonesian specialties, such as Rendang, satay, and various market snacks, such as Wingko, Martabak, Tofu isi, onde-onde, putu ayu, yam tray.

Two agricultural experts from Gadjah Mada University, Professor Taryono and Pranowo Singgihsandjojo arrived in Omusati, Namibia on June 19, 2022. Their coming was to support the development project of the Tissue Culture Laboratory, University of Namibia at the Ogongo Campus in Omusati Province.

Indonesian Ambassador to Namibia, Wisnu Edi Pratignyo welcomed the arrival of two tissue culture experts from Indonesia, and appreciated the University of Namibia, which had invited the two experts. This is the press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek received by Antara in Jakarta on Wednesday (29/6).

Ambassador Wisnu hoped that both universities could expand cooperation in other fields. He also encouraged the Indonesia-Africa Center, which was initiated by the two universities, to be realized immediately. This is aimed at helping to improve university networks and community relations in Indonesia and Africa.

While in Namibia, Prof. Taryono and Pranowo provided capacity building activities to manage and develop a tissue culture laboratory at the University of Namibia campus.

The capacity building program in the field of tissue culture runs from June to September 2022.

The program was joined by staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform of Namibia, as well as researchers and lecturers at the University of Namibia.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was sworn in as president of the Philippines in a ceremony in Manila on Thursday (30/6), succeeding Rodrigo Duterte. In his first speech as president, Marcos Jr. thanked the Filipino people for granting what he called the "largest electoral mandate in the history of Philippine democracy". He promised to take his country forward, with policies that benefit everyone.

On one hand, a number of people are waiting for his promises, including increasing job opportunities and lowering the price of basic commodities and basic needs. On the other hand, both the Philippines and the international community are also waiting for Marcos Jr.'s foreign policy stance, especially related to the relationship between the Philippines and the United States and between the Philippines and China, which is often problematic.

Over the past few years, the Philippines has had a territorial dispute with China. In solving this problem, the Duterte administration prioritizes diplomatic relations with China rather than resolving it firmly. However, in 2016, an arbitral tribunal established under the International Law of the Sea ruled in favour of the Philippines over China's claims.

Regarding the South China Sea dispute, Marcos Jr. Emphasized that he would stick to the decision that clarified the Philippines' sovereign rights. In this regard, the new Philippine president promised to be firm and consistent with his stance. However, that doesn't mean choosing the hard line or war, he will still prioritize diplomacy.

What about the Philippines-US relations? Under the Duterte administration, relations between the two countries, which have a very long history, experienced ups and downs, especially in the military field. In February 2020, Duterte scaled back joint military exercises and threatened to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. But the problem was finally resolved in July 2021.

Will the Marcos Jr. government continue to maintain good relations between the Philippines and the United States? Doubts arose because of the poor past track record of relations between the Marcos family and the United States government. This raises the view that the situation will not improve in the future.

People may have doubts, yet, Marcos Jr clearly said, as quoted from mediaindonesia.com (26/6), that he wants to be friends with everyone. This means that Marcos Jr. will establish partnerships with other countries, including China and the United States without compromising the interests of the Philippines.

To be sure, ASEAN and Indonesia in particular, hope that the new government in the Philippines will further enhance cooperation among countries in the Southeast Asian region which has been well established.