VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Japanese Embassy in collaboration with Mitra Seni Indonesia (MSI) held an Indonesian Art & Culture Exhibition entitled "Indonesia Dekat Di Hati" (Indonesia In My Heart). The exhibition was opened by Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masafumi Ishii at his official residence, Thursday, April 25 2019. At the opening of the exhibition, Ambassador Masafumi Ishii in his remarks, appreciated MSI's efforts to prepare works by Indonesian art masters to be exhibited at this exhibition. Ambassador Ishii said that, through this exhibition, visitors could learn about Indonesian art and its history through a collection of works of art that are very beautiful and rarely seen by most people.

“Well, I think relation is already very close, but I noted to maintain and strengthen it to the future, as in people to people, heart to heart relation is always important, where art can play the major role. And I do see some hints of a exchange interaction between Indonesian arts and Japanese arts. There is a lot of potential for future cooperation,” said Masafumi Ishii.

In an interview with the media after the opening ceremony of the exhibition, he said that the artwork displayed had similarities with Japanese artwork in several parts. The Ambassador admitted that he felt comfortable surrounded by these paintings. In this exhibition, there are around 50 selected paintings. Some of the paintings by Maestro Indonesia featured works by Basoeki Abdullah, Sudarso, Soedibio, Trubus Soedarsono, Ari Smit, Abdul Aziz, Popo Iskandar, Jeihan, Srihadi Soedarsono, Jokopekik, AD Pirous, Nyoman Gunarsa and Sunaryo. (VOI/IHSAN/AHM)

The International Handicrafts Trade Fair-Inacraft 2019 displays almost all handicraft products from Indonesian regions. The 21st exhibition was officially opened by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 24). From year to year, the participants and the quality of handicrafts on display increase. This year's Inacraft exhibition also presents foreign pavilion from Morocco. Chairperson of the Royal Moroccan delegation, Madame Jamilla El Mousalli said in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 24) that Inacraft 2019 would be the cultural link between Indonesia and Morocco.

"I thank you for your cooperation with the organizer so that Morocco can participate in this exhibition. And I'm sure this exhibition can bridge the culture between Indonesia and Morocco," said Jamilla El Mousalli

Jamila El Mousalli also said that at this Inacraft, her country’s pavilion features not only traditional Moroccan handicrafts, but also Islamic nuances that were hundreds of years old. In the exhibition, the products displayed are more varied and of higher quality. This exhibition is targeted to be attended by 1,700 participants from various regions in Indonesia with 1,400 booths. (VOI/Mstn/AHM)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the plan of the Association of Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Producers-ASEPHI which planned to create the Inacraft Online mobile application. After officially opening the 21st international handicraft trade exhibition in Jakarta, Wednesday (24/4), the President said, currently Indonesian handicraft entrepreneurs are ready to market their products through an offline mechanism. Therefore, according to him, the step to encourage the entry of Indonesian handicraft products into the online market is a positive step in increasing market share, both in the country and overseas.

“Yes, all of this, the off-ecosystem is ready. Just lift it to the online ecosystem. Later there will be a national place market in connection with global market place. This product has already been selected for 21 years. The market already exists. Just increase it to global market place,” said President Joko Widodo.

Previously, Deputy Chairperson for Institutional Cooperation and Promotion of the Association of Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Producers, Gusmardi Bustomi, said that the Association of Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Producers was preparing an Inacraft Online application that would accommodate all Small and Medium Enterprises in Indonesia. This application is prepared to deal with the global changes and developments marked by technological progress. In 2018, Inacraft has successfully sold handicraft products to a total value of 136 billion rupiah. This year, Inacraft is targeted to achieve sales of 140 up to 145 billion rupiah. In this year also, Inacraft targets to achieve export transactions reaching 13 to 14 million US dollars, an increase from the previous year which reached 12 million US dollars. (VOI/NDY/AHM)

China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair 2019, the professional platform for international small commodities to enter China, will open on May 23-26, 2019 at the Yiwu International Expo Center in China’s small commodities paradise Yiwu City. 

The Fair of this year will cover an exhibition area of over 50,000 square meters, providing 2,000 international standard booths in 4 exhibition zones, namely Asia Pavilion I, Asia Pavilion II, European Pavilion and America-Australia-Africa & Cross-border Trade Pavilion. 

The imported commodities to be displayed will include household items, maternal and child supplies, beauty and personal care, crafts, home appliances, food and beverage, health and nutrition, fashion accessories, creative toys, stationery, sports goods, clothing and accessories. The Fair is expected to attract over 1,500 business companies and organizations from over 100 countries and regions across the world. The number of visitors and buyers will exceed 120,000. 

The Import Commodities Procurement (Yiwu) Summit, as one of the core activities during the Fair, will gather leading retailers including Walmart, Carrefour, Lianhua Supermarket, HNA Retailing, and China Resources to place orders on-site. 

Other activities will include UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Conference 2019, “Belt and Road” International Urban Economic and Trade Cooperation (Yiwu) Dialogue, China Import E-Commerce Supply-Chain Conference, as well as Spanish Culture Week, overseas new products launch show, world culture shows, food carnival, and imported red wine tasting. 

China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair was founded in 2012 as a professional platform for introducing overseas consumer goods to China. In 2015, echoing the national “Belt and Road Initiative”, and endeavoring to advance the construction of the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe railway and Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan port, the Fair was elevated in terms of level and scale, and began to be co-sponsored by the China International Chamber of Commerce and the China Business Federation. In June 2016, China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair was certified by UFI, becoming the first of its kind in China to pass the certification. Now, the Fair has become one of the first-choice platforms for oversea consumer goods brands entering China. (ant)