VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Finland, Ratu Silvy Gayatri, and the Minister of Economy of Finland, Wille Rydman, agree to encourage economic cooperation between the two countries. They conveyed this at a follow-up meeting after the visit of the Finnish business delegation to Indonesia.

Quoting the official statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki on Sunday, 18^th of February, 2024, Ambassador Ratu Silvy Gayatri appreciated Finnish business delegation’s visit to Indonesia at the end of January of 2024. This visit is part of the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Finland.

During the meeting, Ambassador Gayatri also invited Minister Rydman to attend the Indonesia-Finland Festival 2024, an integrated promotional activity which will be held in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, from 15^th to 16^th of June, 2024.

According to information from the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki, the visit of business delegation led by Minister Rydman was considered one of the most productive working visits. The Indonesian market, as the largest market in Southeast Asia, is considered to have great potential in improving bilateral relations and economic activity between Finland and Indonesia.

During the visit, a Finnish business delegation consisting of 15 companies was interested in developing the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), as a smart city. Finnish companies brought various technological solutions such as 5G and 6G connectivity technology innovations, vehicle battery charging stations, and satellite technology to monitor forest areas.

Minister Rydman expressed support to opening access for Finnish private companies to increase their presence in Indonesia. Finnish companies will conduct direct negotiations with their partners in Indonesia, facilitated by Business Finland Jakarta.

The meeting between Ambassador Gayatri and Minister Rydman, was an important moment since the formation of the Finnish cabinet under the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, which began last year. The Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki hopes that the economic cooperation between Indonesia and Finland will further develop through closer collaboration. 

Batam International Airport had more international flight routes. The latest one was Batam-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was officially opened on Saturday (17/02). In the early stage, there will be three flights per week with Batik Air, but it aims to have at least one flight per day. The official launching was held at the departure gate of Batam Hang Nadim International Airport. The launch was marked by hanging flowers to tourists from Batam who are going to Kuala Lumpur. As quoted by tempo.co, Batam International Airport President Director Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah in his remark said the new route was a follow-up of Batam City Government's intention to make Batam a tourism city in 2024, with a target of 2 million international tourist visits. Pikri said the follow up of cooperation between Batam International Airport with Batam City Government is not only developing the airport physically like the terminal two, but also adding more international flight routes. Later, after Malaysia, there will be flights from Batam to Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries.

Head of Batam Authority (BP Batam) Muhammad Rudi said the regional government's duty is developing the investment in the tourism sector, namely by boosting tourist visits. Rudi, who is also the Mayor of Batam City hoped the new international route will encourage Batam to achieve the 2 million international tourist visit target. According to Rudi, prior to the pandemic, the target was achieved, but many used the domestic seaport route. Rudi also hoped there will be new cooperation between the two countries in tourism promotions after the new flight route. The two nations' governments can create a mutually-beneficial promotion event.

Similarly, Deputy Director Tourism Malaysia Medan Yusnita Yusof said a cooperation between the two nations is necessary to promote tourism. Yusnita said Malaysia aimed to have 4 million tourists. In the first flight of the new route, there were 114 tourists from Kuala Lumpur to Batam on Friday (16/02). Then on Saturday (17/02), there were 162 tourists.

In Nganjuk Regency, East Java province, Indonesia, there is a natural tourist destination filled with myths and legends. It's called the Singokromo Waterfall tourist attraction. This 30 meter high waterfall has beautiful views. Besides, there are myths that are believed to this day. If you bathe in Singokromo Waterfall, you will quickly meet your soul mate for those who are not married yet. This myth has been believed since the appearance of the waterfall.

It is said that this place is a meeting place for lions or tigers who want to mate. Therefore, the village ancestors named the waterfall Singokromo. Singo means lion or tiger, while Kromo means mating or breeding. Singokromo Falls is also said to be beneficial for married couples who do not yet have children.

Singokromo Waterfall is precisely located in Ngliman village. It is around 30 kilometers from Nganjuk square with around 1-hour driving. After arriving at the entrance, you have to pay an entrance ticket of Rp6000 or less than 1 US dollar per person. Then the journey continues by walking along the path for about 500 meters. Along the way to the waterfall you will be presented with beautiful natural views, in the form of thousands of roses blooming on either side of the road.

Singokromo Waterfall has a fairly large water flow. If you want to feel the freshness of a waterfall, you have to be careful. The depth of the pool under the waterfall reaches 2.5 meters. For safety, the tourism management does not recommend visitors to shower or bathe. Visitors are advised to bathe at the edge of the waterfall. Singokromo Waterfall offers beautiful waterfall views. You can capture interesting moments by taking selfies while at this tourist attraction. If you want to camp, the tour manager also provides camping sites and equipment. This waterfall is equipped with bathroom facilities, a gazebo and food stalls.

Pattimura University in Ambon City and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam held a meeting in Ambon City to establish lecturer exchange collaboration to improve the quality of education towards an international standard campus. The Chancellor of Pattimura University, Prof. Freddy Leiwakabessy, in his statement in Ambon, Thursday, February 15, said that Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is one of the universities that has collaborated with Pattimura University since 2020.

Present at the meeting were the Deputy Chancellor of Pattimura University for Planning, Cooperation and Information Systems Dr Ruslan Tawari, Chair of the International Office Jonny Latuny, Manager of the Vrije Universiteit Collaboration Program Wendelien Tuijp, and one of the foreign professional teaching staff at Pattimura University Prof Fridus Steijlen. The meeting was intended to further strengthen cooperation between Vrije Universiteit and Pattimura University, through plans to implement the Mobility Grant program.

Mobility Grand is a partnership collaboration program between Vrije Universiteit, Gadjah Mada University and Pattimura University. Implementation of this program takes the form of lecturer exchanges, implementation of Focus Group Discussions and other academic programs. Initially, the implementation was targeted at the Faculty of ISIP and Medicine and it is hoped that it will develop and collaborate with various faculties at Pattimura University.

Head of the International Office, Jonny Latuny, explained that Vrije Universiteit was interested in conducting a Mobility Grant Program with Pattimura University because Vrije Universiteit (VU), as one of the universities in developed countries, wanted to study how developing countries provide services to society.