VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Board of Inter Parliamentarian Cooperation (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives -DPR visited Mexico on 14th up to 20th April 2018. Members of the board met leaders of Mexican Parliament and Mexican Business Committee. The meeting is aimed at fostering Inter Parliamentarian Cooperation and bilateral relations related to analyzing fields of cooperation which need special attention. After visiting Mexico, Vice Chairman of the board, Juliari Batubara to media at Media Center of DPR in Jakarta on Thursday (26/04) said that the trade value of two countries must be increased because Indonesia and Mexico have big economic market and potential.

“So far, the bilateral cooperation has been focusing on business to business, such as Indonesian export of Crude Palm Oil   -CPO to Mexico. In fact, Indonesia has exported aircraft made by PT Dirgantara Indonesia to Mexico. 80 percent of the two countries’ trade value reaches $1,517 billion dollars and Indonesia is surplus. But, Indonesia has little import from Mexico. I think, the trade value of two countries must be increased in the future because it has big potential. We are G20 member countries, and have a lot of population, and Mexico has a strategic position, exactly at the gateway of the USA and Canada. I think Indonesia can explore Mexico as the entrance to the USA to increase Indonesian export which can be said to be a little and finds new export markets,” said Juliari Batubara.

Juliari Batubara who led the visit of the board to Mexico further explained that the parliament of the two countries agreed to boost cooperation in the field of trade and increase people-to-people contact. One of them is by providing 30-day free visa for Mexican citizens. He also remarked that Mexico is interested in expanding Islamic legal beef trade and cow livestock of Mexico to Indonesian market. (VOI/AF/RHM)

A total of 24 chess players from 11 countries have been taking part in the international chess championship – JAFPA GM & WGM Chess Tournament 2018 at Paragon Hotel Solo, Central Java since Wednesday (25/4/2018). Twelve of them are from Indonesia, while others come from various countries, including the United States, Russia, China, Vietnam, France, Serbia, Singapore, Romania and Georgia. The International Chess Championships was officially opened by Central java Governor, Heru Sujatmoko accompanied by Solo Mayor, FX Hadi Rudiyatmo and Chairman of Indonesian Chess Association (PB Percasi), Utut Adiyanto and Corporate Affairs Director of JAPFA, Rachmat Indrajaya. The General Chairman of PB Percasi, Utut Adiyanto said that the event which takes place until May 1 is aimed to encourage Indonesian chess players to improve their performance and win the grand master title. Solo is chosen as the host city as it is the home of Indonesian Grand Master, Edi Handoko. Utut hopes that the event will be able to raise the spirit of chess players as well as to establish young master seeds.

“This is a Grand Master tournament for men and women from 11 countries. There are from the United States, China, Russia, Vietnam, and France. Solo is chosen as the host city as it has been home to early chess players. There was Edi Handoko from Solo. We are lack of chess player supply from Central Java. Thus, we choose Solo to host the tournament,”  Utut Adianto said.

Utut Adianto added that some of the overseas chess players who take part have big names and hold grand master titles. Meanwhile, Corporate Affairs Director of JAPFA, Rachmat Indrajaya said that his side encourages Indonesian chess activities not only to be held through annual competition which invites Indonesian chess players, but also to form JAPFA Chess Club as a commitment of the company in a bid to build and train potential Indonesian chess athletes. He hopes that the Indonesian chess players really get the best rivals so that they are able to excel at the International level.  (KBRN/Edwi/Trans Ndy/RHM)

Vice President, Jusuf Kalla appreciates the 20^th International Craft Products Expo or Inacraft 2018 held at the Jakarta Convention Center from 25-29 April. At this event, Inacraft chooses North Sumatra as the main icon exhibition with the theme of "The Loftiness of North Sumatra" following the central theme of Inacraft "Coloring the World". He said that by becoming the main icon of the exhibition, North Sumatra can provide employment, economic benefits, and pride.

“I want to congratulate the North Sumatera province to become host as main thing in this exhibition. I believe this would give us benefits in terms of manpower, economy and pride,” Vice President Jusu Kalla said during the opening ceremony of the Inacraft exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/04).

Vice President Jusuf Kalla further said that as the main icon, North Sumatra Province is contributing in preserving Indonesian culture through this exhibition. The exhibition is participated in by 1,395 participants across Indonesia, represented by craftsmen, entrepreneurs, producers and exporters of handicrafts. Some friendly countries, such as Japan, Poland, South Korea, and some ASEAN member countries incorporated in the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association also participate in the exhibition by displaying their handicraft products. (VOI/Egy/Trans Ndy/RHM)