VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeks to intensify culinary diplomacy or gastro-diplomacy as part of efforts to increase economic diplomacy that has recently become the attention of the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo in the Meeting of Indonesian Representative. Culinary diplomacy is, one of them, manifested through the opening of typical Indonesian restaurants in various countries spread all over the world. This was conveyed by Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, February 15^th.

“The Heads of Indonesian Representatives abroad are asked to be able to make efforts to open Indonesian market to introduce Indonesian food either in the context of opening restaurants, serving street food, or in the context of fine dining,” Armanatha said.

Arrmanatha Nasir added, culinary diplomacy is one effective ways to introduce Indonesia to the international public who has not known much about Indonesia. In addition, it is also expected through the increasing efforts of culinary diplomacy, Indonesia can increase exports of Indonesian products, especially Indonesian typical spices and food ingredients needed to make Indonesian processed food and beverage. So far, Indonesia itself has implemented culinary diplomacy by utilizing several culinary icons that have been popular worldwide. One of them in 2010, Indonesia promoted rendang as a typical Indonesian cuisine. Rendang Diplomacy turned out to produce good results. Rendang has become the most delicious food according to the US Cable News Network (CNN) version through Facebook Poll, followed by nasi goring or fried rice in the second position. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)