VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Tourism Promotion Representative Office in Paris (VITO) creates innovative and creative promotional activities through La Maison de L'Indonesie or House of Indonesia in Paris.

Head of the VITO Office, Eka Moncarre, told Antara London, Thursday that while waiting for French tourists to visit Indonesia again, La Maison de l'Andonésie brought Indonesia to France through local and gastronomic products.

She admitted, during the pandemic when foreign tourists could not visit Indonesia because of travel restrictions that were still tight, promotions had to be done creatively and innovatively.

Eka Moncarre who is also the founder of the House of Indonesia Paris (La Maison De L'Indonesie), said that every Friday an event called “Happy Hour Indonesia” is held in the form of a pop-up store at the VITO office at 22 rue Laplace 75005 Paris.

"Visitors can try various local Indonesian products ranging from herbal medicine, chocolate, coffee to aromatherapy products, or can directly buy products imported from Indonesia," he said.

In addition, Indonesian market snacks are also available, which are served free to visitors.

"Happy Hour Indonesia has been going on since early October and has received a warm welcome from French citizens in Paris," he said.

Apart from the Happy Hour event on Saturday, October 31st, Indonesia will promote at the Weekend Market Le petit village international de gastronomie at Place Baudoyer in the center of Paris in front of the Paris City Hall.

Since the establishment of Village International de la Gastronomie in 2017, Indonesia has become a loyal partner of the festival, which in 2018 Indonesia became a country of honor.

This year, Indonesia will return from 31 October to the end of December to introduce Indonesia's rich and diverse culinary delights.

This is also an opportunity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of French-Indonesian bilateral relations. At the Weekend Market Le Petit Village International de la Gastronomie 2020, around 23 countries will present iconic products and dishes and will change countries every week.

Indonesia will be present until December. This weekend market will also be enlivened with dances and music from various countries, cooking demonstrations by international chefs, and a gastronomy book expo by the Gourmand Book Award.

In addition to selling superior products, La Maison de l'Indonésie collaborates with Restaurant Indonesia to sell foods such as fried rice, chicken satay, and market snacks.

This activity also received support from the Indonesian Embassy in Paris by providing dances to complement the promotion of Indonesian culture in France in November. (Antaranews)

The Vice President, Ma'ruf Amin, advised that Islamic boarding schools in all regions of Indonesia can play a role as centers for three areas, namely religious education, preaching, and empowerment of the people's economy.

He stated that when he attended the National Islamic Students Day commemoration event held by the National Committee for Islamic Economics and Finance (KNEKS) virtually, from his official residence, in Jakarta, Thursday.

"Islamic boarding school, as a place for the guidance of students, must continue to function. First, make and prepare people who understand religion; second, Islamic boarding schools are also centers of da'wah; third, Islamic boarding school must become centers of empowerment, especially in the economic sector," he said.

As a religious educational institution, Islamic boarding schools are expected to produce quality resources for students in terms of Islam. By producing students who understand the teachings of Islam well, the country has the potential to have pious leaders.

"As the Prophet said, the scholars who have been called by Allah SWT must have a replacement, there must be a successor. If not, said the Prophet, if the pious are no longer there, then people will become leaders of ignorant people who do not understand religion," he said.

As a da'wah center, he hopes that Islamic boarding schools will take advantage of technological developments in broadcasting Islamic teachings.

Through the digitization of da'wah, the messages conveyed by the speakers can reach a wider community.

"Because with digital da'wah, the target will be wider, the time (can be) anytime and anywhere. Through digital preaching, the message and advice will go anywhere," said the vice president, who has a scholarly background.

Finally, regarding the role of Islamic boarding schools as centers of community economic empowerment, he wants all Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, which number 28,000 Islamic boarding schools, to encourage the development of sharia-based financial lending institutions to target communities with weak economies.

Ma'ruf Amin also encouraged each Islamic boarding school to have a micro waqf bank and Baitul Maal wa Tamwil (BMT) to empower the economy of the people living in the Islamic boarding school environment.

The existence of BMTs in an Islamic boarding school is expected to be an intermediary for the provision of loans or financing from the Revolving Fund Management Institution for Cooperative Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (LPDB-KUMKM) to the community.

"Therefore, I hope that all Islamic boarding school, if possible, 20,000 Islamic boarding school, can build BMTs and later receive financing apart from Islamic banks and LPDB from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises," he said. (Antaranews)

The Vice President, KH Ma'ruf Amin, proposed a National Cash Waqf Movement (GNWT) to expand community participation in raising social funds to support the acceleration of national development and improve community welfare.

"I have spoken with the President and the President agrees that we will carry out the National Cash Waqf Movement. We will launch this later and involve all who claim to be Muslim, from the president, vice president, coordinating minister, ministers to all officials (such as) governors. , regent, "he said, in Jakarta, Thursday.

He stated that when delivering a speech at the commemoration of National Santri Day, which was held by the National Committee for Islamic Economics and Finance (KNEKS) virtually.

Apart from being able to raise social funds, according to him, waqf is also a form of almsgiving, which in Islam the reward is never cut off.

"If people die, their charity breaks, except for three of which are alms that continue to flow. The cleric said it was waqf, because the capital would not be lost," he said.

With this National Movement, he hopes that the cash waqf collected by the Muslim community can be collected and used for development programs and economic recovery, and improving the welfare of the people.

"Waqf will continue to grow, invested into a large community endowment fund. This is in the context of developing community social funds. That is what God willing, we will develop in this effort to develop zakat," he said.

Muslim funds collected through cash waqf will be perpetual, the principal amount cannot be reduced, but the benefits will continue to grow. The management and development of cash waqf require innovation and creativity to generate benefits for the community, he explained.

To realize the GNWT, one effort that can be done now is increasing the literacy of Muslims regarding the importance of waqf.

According to him, the literacy of the Muslim community towards waqf is still lower than zakat.

Referring to several surveys, Muslim literacy towards waqf falls into the low category with an index of 50.48; while the literacy index about zakat has entered the medium category, namely 66.78 percent.

"This is because the public's perception of waqf so far is that it is only land waqf, whereas actually waqf does not have to be in the form of immovable objects, but can also be in the form of money and securities," he said. (Antaranews)

Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi said that the death of the leader of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG) KH Abdullah Syukri made Indonesia lose its educational and community leaders again.

"Indonesia is missing educational figures who are very consistent in fostering the ummah," said the Minister of Religion in a press release received in Jakarta, Thursday.

He said KH Syukri was an example and that the deceased left a legacy, namely the Gontor students who are active in various fields. They are the next generation who are expected to continue the value of the struggle of the deceased.

The Minister of Religion was unable to attend the funeral of the deceased. However, the Minister of Religion has asked the East Java Head of Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion to represent him.

"The legacy of the deceased is very much. Gontor alumni who serve in various fields are clear evidence of the success of his struggle. I hope that the younger generation can learn from his wisdom and hospitality," said the Minister of Religion.

KH Syukri died on Wednesday (21/10) at 15.50 WIB in Gontor, Ponorogo. Minister of Religion Fachrul expressed his deep sorrow and condolences.

"This grief has deepened with the death of several Islamic boarding school leaders and caregivers in the last few months," said the Minister of Religion. (Antaranews)