The Indonesian Embassy in Beirut has acknowledged its continued support for trade cooperation improvement between Indonesia and Lebanon. Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon Hajriyanto Y Thohari gave the Primaduta Award to Lebanese businessman and importer, George R Fattouh. The award was given for his service in helping market Indonesian products in Paris from the Middle East. The award was given at a ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, Thursday (11/1) Fatough, is the owner of George R. Fattouh S.A.L, a business that has been importing Indonesian products since the 1980s. It has a range of products, including: palm oil and its derivatives, oil and fats (including cocoa butter substitute, fat spread, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and lauric confectionery fats), cardboard, stationary, and school equipment. Some Indonesian products are now even available at famous retail networks, such as Spinney’s and Carrefour. In 2022, the value imported by George R. Fattough S.A.L of Indonesian products, was 981.3 million USD. This was a 149.5 million USD increase when compared to 2021. Fattouh said Indonesian products are known for their quality and are in high demand in Lebanese markets. However, he said, the challenge now is increasing freight costs due to security challenges in the region.
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Listeners, a number of delicious dishes were served to the guests of Dhaup Ageng Pura Pakualaman Yogyakarta, at the wedding reception of the youngest son of K.G.P.A.A. Paku Alam X, namely B.P.H. Kusumo Kuntonugroho with Laily Annisa Kusumastuti which was held on January 10, 2024.Head of the Customs and Accommodation Division, Dhaup Ageng Pura Pakualaman, KRT Radyo Wisroyo said that the menu served to guests was quite varied. These menus are typical menus prepared by Pakualaman Pura, Indonesian menus and western food menus were also available. All invited guests including VIP and VVIP guests got the same menu. The first menu served to welcome guests, namely two types of welcome drink, namely lime lemongrass and ginger drink with lime. The welcome drink was given when guests sat down and watched the Bedhaya Sidamukti and Bedhaya Kakung Indrawidagda dance performances. Next, they gotsnacks for appetizer such as croquettes and other light snacks. There is a snack that is considered quite special and rare called Garulina. Garulina was the opening snack at the Pahargyan Dhaup Ageng Pakualaman lunch on the first day. Garulina has been around since the era before Indonesian independence. Garulina is actually not a typical Central Javanese food. It looks like the Lapis Legit layered cake, but there is something different, because there is a special layer like vla which is made from fresh milk, eggs and sugar. To get this sweet snack, Pakulaman Temple has to place a special order from the third generation of makers who have been pioneering since the 1950s. In Jogja, Garulina is very difficult to find and is considered rare because it is not sold every day.
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Indonesia Gastrodiplomacy Series Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, was carried out on June 27-30, 2024. This event involved 23 foreign ministers and aimed at reinforcing international relations.
The Director for Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati, stated on Saturday (29/6), in Labuan Bajo, that international relations would strengthen and solidify Indonesia's political ties. During the three to four-day event, she emphasized that fellowship and connection between the participating countries will be well-developed.
Ani explained that the event themed "Diplomatic Tour Trail of Spices in East Nusa Tenggara" would accommodate Indonesia's relationship and networking with neighboring countries. This was especially important since participants came from various countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Latin America. Therefore, nearly all regions worldwide were represented by foreign ministers involved in the event.
According to Ani, relationship and networking between countries is a fundamental basis for Indonesia to build political relations and extend economic relations in more regions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to maintaining good diplomacy with neighboring countries. They will also support interconnected fields among countries and Indonesia's national development.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promoted the tourism potential of Labuan Bajo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province, to 23 foreign ministers to improve the investment in the region.
The Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, stated on Thursday (27/6), in Labuan Bajo, that the region's potential includes investment potential, trading potential, and tourism potential.
Siti explained that the foreign ministers were invited to observe tourism potential in the super-priority tourism destinations at Labuan Bajo, such as Padar Island, Komodo Island, and Pink Beach in the Komodo National Park area. They also came to see investment potential in the integrated tourism area, Parapuar and Golo Mori, Labuan Bajo.
This diplomatic gastronomy event was also aimed at introducing Indonesian cuisine to foreign ministers of neighboring countries and to other foreigners.
Moreover, foreign ministers were also invited to take a look at the region's small and medium enterprises products, such as woven cloth, processed food, and traditional craft, so that they will also be able to be marketed in their respective countries.
The Indonesian Embassy in Manila has organized Indonesia Expo 2024 to promote Indonesian products and culture in the Philippines. Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo in his remarks at the opening of Indonesia Expo 2024 at Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2, Makati City, Friday (28/6) said that the Indonesia Expo 2024 exhibition is one of the efforts of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to increase mutual understanding and encourage closer economic collaboration between Indonesia and the Philippines. In his statement on Saturday (29/6), quoted by ANTARA, Ambassador Agus said that the Indonesia Expo 2024 activity is a concrete action to realize the mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to foster closer economic and cultural relations with accredited countries.
The exhibition, held from June 28 to 30, 2024, carries the theme "Build Strong Connection with the Best of Indonesia in the Philippines". This theme reflects the commitment of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila to bring the best quality products to the Philippine market and provide an Indonesian cultural experience for visitors.
Various cultural performances, live bands, and side events were prepared to pamper visitors during the three-day exhibition, including angklung workshops, cooking demonstrations, coffee brewing, and Batik painting.
Indonesia Expo 2024 participants included Indonesian companies whose products are already marketed in the Philippines, as well as Filipino importers who distribute Indonesian products.
The exhibition featured a wide range of product categories, including halal food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, confectionery, fashion and accessories, household products, logistics and surveyor services, health and beauty, and stationery.
The combination of various types of products is expected to provide an overview and display of Indonesia's diverse superior products and various business offers in Indonesia to meet the various needs and preferences of the Philippine market.
The first Indonesia Expo in the Philippines was held in 2022. Every year, the Indonesian Embassy in Manila strives to expand its offerings and refine the concept of the expo, in order to provide the best overview to the Philippine market and better service to exhibitors.
J+ Art, an art competition initiated by Connected Art Platform (CAP), held an art exhibition at Saloka Theme Park, Semarang Regency from June 22 to July 21, 2024.
The J+ Art Awards program featured 160 participants from nine countries: Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, England, Korea, Austria, and Switzerland. Of these participants, 11 finalists were selected to exhibit their work at Saloka Theme Park. The collected works responded to the theme "Beyond Green" presented by this exhibition.
This exhibition marks the first art and innovation showcase in Indonesia to be held at an amusement park. Situated on the 2nd floor of Daimami Restaurant, visitors to Saloka Theme Park can enjoy dozens of fine art pieces and installations at J+ Art. The judging panel includes two professors from the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland and the University of Arts and Design Linz in Austria.
Through the theme "Beyond Green," the J+ Art Awards not only aim to enhance participants' skills and techniques but also contribute to the preservation of ecology and cultural heritage through a contemporary lens. According to J+ Art Awards Curator, Mona Liem, this competition is designed to raise awareness and encourage contributions to environmental sustainability, fostering young innovators, creative thinkers, researchers, and outstanding artists. The event integrates elements of art and manufacturing to promote collaboration between visual and design disciplines, ultimately aiding in the preservation of both ecology and cultural heritage.
A total of 30 Ethiopian youths participated in a writing training activity organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia -KBRI Addis Ababa in Arba Minch City on Wednesday (26/6/2024).
Indonesian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti and the African Union, Al Busyra Basnur, said the writing training was held to enhance the knowledge and writing skills of Ethiopian youths so that they are able to write well about Indonesia and Ethiopia.
The training was mentored by Ambassador Al Busyra Basnur, who is also a writer and former journalist, with five resource persons from Ethiopian youths. They are Selamawit, Lidya, Evelyn, Getayawkal, and Yared, who are students of Arba Minch University.
Interestingly, the five students are part of fifteen Ethiopian youths who wrote a book entitled “Indonesia in the Hearts and Minds of Ethiopian Youth” which was officially launched and discussed today, on Saturday, (June 29). Ambassador Al Busyra Basnur is also involved as an editor of the book.
The Indonesian Embassy in Addis Ababa continues to encourage Ethiopian youths to write books along with Indonesian ones. Until now, the Embassy has published 10 books written by youths, academicians, and prominent figures from Ethiopia and Indonesia.
An Indonesian diaspora owner of the Creamberry ice cream shop in Las Vegas, Rosalina Sie, has succeeded in attracting visitors through her innovation in variations of the typical Indonesian ice cream and dessert menu. It is said that the Creamberry outlet manages to make a profit of one billion rupiah per year. Rosalina Sie said that the ice cream shop which she founded in 2016 offers a variety of desserts, such as roll ice cream, toast waffle, mixed ice as well as the best-selling menu which is currently viral, namely Cotton Candy Burrito.
Cotton Candy Burrito is a cotton candy creation filled with ice cream, then rolled up like a burrito. This variant was successful in raising the Creamberry outlet to fame when it was reviewed by a local newspaper in Los Angeles. In addition, Creamberry has also been highlighted by a number of national media and public figures in the United States, such as the Food Network, Ellen DeGeneres and the @foodgod account which has more than 10 million followers across social media. Rosalina said she was proud that her customers were really happy with her cotton candy burrito creations with various flavor combinations. Visitors to the Creamberry outlet, Kimberly and Hanna Lamon, admit that they regularly visit once or twice a week, because they are attracted by the variety of the menu and new offer every time they visit.
Previously, eight years ago, Rosalina Sie opened a Creamberry outlet in Las Vegas. She started her business with capital of US$300,000, or around Rp4.9 billion. The business she manages currently employs 12 employees and has managed to record profits of almost Rp1 billion per year. At the start, Rosalina had to struggle with various strict regulations to be able to open a business. Rosalina is directly involved in ensuring the quality of the raw materials used, supervising employees, ensuring customer satisfaction, and conducting research to create new menus so that consumers don't get bored. Rosalina hopes that the strategy she is currently implementing can allow Creamberry to continue to grow and be able to open outlets in other states in the United States.
Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Achmad Ubaedillah, officially opened the 2024 Indonesian Halal Product Exhibition which took place at the International Convention Center in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
As a form of support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and the Indonesian halal industry, the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan held the exhibition by inviting 20 participants from Indonesia.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports of Brunei Darussalam, Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, was the guest of honor at the event.
In a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, Ambassador Achmad Ubaedillah expressed his hope that this year Indonesia and Brunei could restore the trend of increasing bilateral trade, especially after the exhibition was held.
The Ambassador hopes that the Halal Expo can attract investors from Brunei to invest in the halal industry in Indonesia, and that Brunei tourists will get more information about Muslim-friendly destinations in Indonesia.
At the Halal Expo, various products such as food and drinks, medicine, cosmetics, Muslim clothing, and Muslim-friendly tourist destinations in Indonesia were exhibited.
The Indonesian businessmen's association in Brunei and the social organization Indonesian Community Association in Brunei Darussalam also participated in the exhibition. The potential of Indonesia's halal industry is estimated to be worth around 400 billion Brunei dollars or around 4.8 trillion rupiah.
In 2023, Indonesia occupied the 3rd position in the Global Islamic Economic Indicator Ranking, and in the halal food sector, Indonesia was in the 2nd position.
According to data from the Indonesian Embassy, the volume of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Brunei from 2019 to 2022 continued to increase, from 133.7 million US dollars to 897.3 million US dollars, before that figure decreased last year.
The celebration was held with Cultural Performance in the courtyard of Solo City Hall, Saturday evening (22/06/2024). The event was attended by the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Solo and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka were also present. In this event, India performed a number of dances from both traditional and modern origins. Such as Indian Odissi Dance, Bollywood Dance With Vina Fan, Yoga With Anjasmara, and Surakarta Dance.
Apart from that, there was also a Yoga Day event for the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga at the Pagelaran Keraton Surakarta, Sunday (23/06/2024). Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty said this event marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia in establishing international relations.
On that occasion, Ambassador Sandeep invited all those present to have a flashback that India was the second country after Egypt to receive international recognition after the proclamation of Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945. India recognized Indonesia's sovereignty on 2 September 1946. According to Sandeep, India will always support Indonesia with the new president Prabowo Subianto and vice president Gibran.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, appreciated the Indian government's support for Indonesia. Diplomatic relations between the two countries will be well maintained. He admitted that he had brought the proposal put forward by the Indian ambassador. The collaboration is related to artificial intelligence.
The peak celebration of India-Indonesia diplomatic cooperation was attended by hundreds of people. Solo residents who attended were also amazed by the performance of Indian artists when they performed the country's typical dance. Apart from that, traditional Indian dance also enlivened the event, a number of traditional dances from the Mangkunegaran and Solo Palaces were also performed.
Hundreds of Kenyan student athletes participated in the Pencak Silat Ambassador's Cup 2024 tournament held at Woodcreek School in Kiambu County, Kenya, Saturday (22/6).
In a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Sunday (23/6), Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya, Mohamad Hery Saripudin, explained that the event is part of the celebration of 45 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kenya. According to Ambassador Mohamad Hery, this event not only fosters cultural exchanges between Indonesia and Kenya but also serves as a cultural bridge to enhance mutual understanding and relations among the people of both countries.
At the event, Ambassador Hery also inaugurated the opening of Pencak Silat training centers in six schools in Kenya. He stated that Pencak Silat is is not only a martial art but also a discipline to improve physical fitness, mental resilience, and cultural appreciation.
The Ambassador's Cup 2024 is a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi, the National Federation of Pencak Silat Kenya (NFPSK), and an Indonesian instant noodle production company in Kenya. 248 participants from various schools in Kenya took part in the event.
The tournament featured several categories, ranging from children to adults, boys, girls, stance demonstrations, one-on-one sparring, and was attended by at least 500 people, including participants’ families, and supporters. The event was also attended by Rector of Umma University, lecturers from the Technical University of Mombasa who brought participant delegations, as well as school principals whose students participated in the competition.
Abdul Kadir Jailani, Director for Asia, Pacific, and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who attended as a guest of honor, welcomed this Pencak Silat tournament. He mentioned that this event would strengthen Indonesia-Kenya relations. Meanwhile, Cleopas Chalica, Chairman of the National Federation of Pencak Silat Kenya, urged theparticipants to respect sportsmanship, solidarity, friendship, and camaraderie during the tournament.
The Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi said that they seized the momentum by providing support for the advancement of Pencak Silat in Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia. This support includes providing Silat uniforms, protective gear, Silat props, as well as organizing tournaments and other activities to promote Pencak Silat to the world.(Ant)
The Indonesian Embassy Tokyo held a cultural and historical exhibition entitled Batanghari River in History Civilization. The exhibition aims at introducing the variety of Indonesian cultures in Japan. The event is held at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo on June 17-23, 2024. This activity is a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo with the Directorate General of Culture of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology and Serumpun Bumi Melayu.
Moreover, the exhibition was officially opened by the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi on Monday June 17, 2024. In his remarks, Ambassador Heri emphasized that Batanghari plays an important role in encouraging cultural exchanges. Besides that, it also enriches the Indonesian art tradition in the history of Indonesia's relations with the outside world.
Ambassador Heri in his statement on Wednesday (19/6) conveyed Batanghari which is geographically located in Jambi has become a channel of cultural exchange and human endeavor ranging from ancient trade networks to modern artistic expressions. He explained the area around the Batanghari River is also a melting pot for many religions in Indonesia such as Hinduism , Buddhism, Islam and other local beliefs.
Ambassador Heri affirmed the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo always promotes the variety of cultures of the archipelago on various occasions as part of Indonesia's diplomacy. According to him, this effort continues to be made so that the rich variety of Indonesian culture continues to be embedded in the memories of Japanese and world citizens. He hopes this exhibition will inspire many people especially the Japanese . He also hopes Japanese citizens visit Indonesia including the Batanghari.
The exhibition was also attended by the Egyptian Ambassador to Japan and diplomatic representatives from the United States, China, Philippines and Laos. There were also a number of Nusantara cultural experts including Sativa Sutan Aswar as a representative of Serumpun Bumi Melayu. Sativa also explained Batanghari is one of the centers of civilization in Indonesia which has received and influenced by other cultures . One of them is traditional cloth or wastra around Batanghari.
The exhibition also displays various Batanghari handicrafts including porcelain plates, wastra and silk kurung clothes as well as Batanghari specialties namely Gandus Cake.
Jakarta will celebrate its 497th anniversary on June 22 2024. However, a series of events have been held from May to July. Some of the events being held in the series of Jakarta's 2024 anniversary are the Jakarta Fair to the Jakarta Light Festival 2024.
One of the events that is regularly held ahead of Jakarta's anniversary is PRJ or Jakarta Fair. The Jakarta Fair is the largest exhibition and entertainment event in Jakarta which has been running for more than 50 years. The largest exhibition event in Southeast Asia will take place from 12 June to 14 July 2024 at Jiexpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Apart from the Jakarta Fair, the annual event to welcome DKI Jakarta's 2024 anniversary is the Jakarta Light Expo. Jakarta Light Expo is a laser and light show activity held in busy spots in the city of Jakarta.