VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Head of Culture and Tourism Office of Bandung, Kenny Dewi Kaniasari, said more than 2,000 people consisting of representatives from several Asian African countries, representatives from several cities and provinces in Indonesia, and some communities and students in Bandung participated in the Asian African Carnival 2018. The event themed "Respect For Diversity" was held in the city of Bandung, West Java, Saturday, April 28th.

“Well, for the membership, the total number of participants of Asian African Carnival who have already registered is about 2,300 people. It consists of representatives of several countries. We have received confirmation that 15 countries participate in the carnival. Then there are also 10 regions in Indonesia, and also communities from the city of Bandung and West Java, and also groups of students in the city of Bandung. So the total is about 2,300 people,” Kenny Dewi Kaniasari said.

Kenny Dewi Kaniasari to RRI World Service Voice of Indonesia recently added that Bandung city administration through Bandung Culture and Tourism Office as the organizer, has been trying to show various performances that describe the cultural diversity of the Asian and African countries. Asian African Carnival, which is one of the series of events in Asia-Africa Week 2018 which runs from 23 to 29 April, was held to commemorate the 63 years of Asian-African Conference. The Asia Africa Carnival 2018 is the fourth held after firstly being held in 2015. (VOI/Dee/Trans Rezha/AHM)

A Dutch port company is willing to establish cooperation in various fields, including modernizing seaports in Indonesia. This was stated by Head of Economic Department of Dutch Embassy to Indonesia, Siebe Schuur in an interview with Voice of Indonesia recently in connection with the commemoration of King's Day this year. According to Siebe Schuur, Port Rotterdam from the Netherland, in cooperation with Indonesia Port Corporation (Pelindo I), wants to build 5 modern seaports in Indonesia, including one in North Sumatra.

“Port Rotterdam wants to be involved in any way in the development of 5 big seaports in Indonesia, because port Rotterdam believes in the sea toll that President Joko Widodo has announced in Indonesia, but we do not only involve in modernizing the ports but also the ports' workers, because if you have modern ports and the workers are not modernized to be better skill as well, so you will spend a lot of time and efforts in educational training of port workers for instance in Pelindo ports,” Siebe Schuur said.

Siebe Schuur further said that especially for North Sumatra, Port Rotterdam will cooperate with Pelindo to build not only seaports but also special economic zones to boost industrial activity. He convinced that building a modern seaport is important but it is enough, since there should be product to be transported. Thus, it is necessary to develop an industrial area that will also create employment in the region. (VOI/DP/AHM)

The negative campaign on Indonesia’s palm oil in Europe has no impact on its export to the Netherlands. This was stated by Head of Economic Department of the Dutch Embassy to Indonesia, Siebe Schuur to RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia in an interview in connection with the commemoration of King’s Day which falls on April 27. According to him, it is true that there was a lot discussion on palm oil in Europe but Indonesia’s export on this product was increasing.

“It may be a little bit surprising to Indonesian audience, for instance last year, while there is a lot discussion about palm oil, the export of Indonesia to Europe and particularly to Holland in whatever form actually increase. So, I would like to make this statement because there to be perception, may be you, may be the Netherland discriminating palm oil. I think the trade shows different,” Siebe Schuur said.

Siebe Schuur further said that the Netherland government is doing negative campaign but there are NGOs and some private citizens in Europe who have concern in palm oil have opinion in palm oil. He also said that recently, there has been a little change on UK and Iceland’s opinion on palm oil, but it does not reflect the opinion of the Dutch government or other governments in Europe. (VOI/Pane/RHM)