VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

According to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok received in Jakarta on Tuesday (24/9),  the Blending Souls exhibition which will take place at the National Gallery of Thailand  on October 4-30, 2024, reaffirms the power of painting as a universal language capable of strengthening Indonesian-Thai cultural relations, while continuing the success of previous exhibitions, namely Bridge of Color in 2022 and Blossoming Curiosity in 2023.

In the exhibition with the theme "fusion of soul flavors", Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, will also present his paintings that reflect cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Thailand.

This year's painting exhibition will feature works from 24 artists  consisting of 14 Indonesian artists and 10 Thai artists. The artists explore various topics  ranging from cultural symbols to personal reflections on diplomacy. Moreover,  it is also supported by two renowned Indonesian curators namely Agus Dermawan and Mikke Susanto and a Thai curator  Padhung Prommoon.Indonesian artists include Camelia Mitasari Hasibuan, Edi Sunaryo, Erica Hestu Wahyuni, Galuh Tajimalela, Made Toris Mahendra, Ni Nyoman Sani, Prajna Dewantara Wirata, Putu Sutawijaya, Rendra Santana and Wayan Kun Adnyana. While Thai artists involving in the event include Banlu Wiriyapornprapas, Chalermsak Radanachan, Kriengkrai Kulphun, Panupong Kongyen, Pannaphan Yodmanee, Phunsee Srisuphar  and Sucharat Vongthong,

Through the creative lens of the artists,the Blending Souls exhibition emphasizes that diplomacy is not only limited to formal channels, but can also be expressed beautifully through art. The works on display will invite visitors to better understand the cultural, social and environmental relationships that bind the two countries.

The Indonesia-Thai paintings exhibition is part of a series of events at the Trade, Tourism, Investment and Culture Forum, an initiative designed to strengthen ties between Indonesia and its global partners through trade, investment and cultural collaboration.

Blending Souls will be the finale of the 2024 Trade, Tourism, Investment and Cultural Forum series which includes Indonesia Fair at Central World on September 6-8, Business Forum on September 13 and Indonesian Cultural Night at Ganesha Theatre on September 15.

As many as 100 booths offering products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and creative industries at the Indonesian Businesswomen Association (IWAPI) Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, became a bridge in connecting Indonesian and Malaysian businesswomen. Through this event, business actors from both countries expanded their markets and established strategic cooperation. Coordinator of Economic Functions of the Indonesian Embassy, Hendra Purnama Iskandar, after the opening of the exhibition on Monday (23/9/2024), mentioned that the 100 booths were filled by IWAPI members and their Malaysian partners. This activity is fully supported by the Indonesian Embassy as part of efforts to increase economic cooperation between the two countries ahead of the organization’s National Work Meeting.

Moreover, Hendra conveyed that Indonesian women entrepreneurs have the opportunity to showcase their products and services at this exhibition. He also hopes these products can enter the Malaysian market through business matching sessions. Some of the excellent products on display included modest fashion, accessories, and traditional fabrics or wastras. Hendra Purnama Iskandar affirmed that the potential to expand the market in Malaysia is very large. He believes that entrepreneurs from both countries, who share many cultural similarities, can easily establish cooperation. As allied countries, various aspects such as culture and tradition serve as supporting factors in the partnership.

The wife of the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Kiki Hermono, officially opened the Indonesian Businesswomen Association (IWAPI) exhibition and business matching activities. In her remarks, Kiki explained that IWAPI, as the largest organization of women entrepreneurs, has contributed significantly to developing the fighting spirit and welfare of women, especially in the economic sector. She hopes that the exhibition can open up greater market opportunities, including providing opportunities for networking with business people in Malaysia, so that Indonesian women entrepreneurs become more empowered and successful.

In addition to being attended by 1,200 members of the organization, the event was also attended by IWAPI founder Dewi Motik Pramono and Chairperson of the IWAPI Central Executive Board, Nita Yudi. Their presence is proof of their full support for the women entrepreneurs participating in this exhibition.

The Indonesian Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, held a diplomatic reception to celebrate the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.

Through an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (21/9/2024), it was disclosed that the activity was attended by around 500 guests, consisting of a number of vice ministers, members of congress, governors, mayors, diplomatic corps, CEOs, company owners, rectors, deans, Colombian figures, and the media.

Also present were partners of the Indonesian Embassy in Bogota, who are members of Amigos de Indonesia (Friends of Indonesia), who admire the diversity of Indonesian culture and gastronomy.

The diplomatic reception, held in the Centro Cultural Gimnasio Moderno hall, featured various regional dances from Indonesia. They were performed by around 120 Colombian dancers. It was a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy and a number of schools, from elementary school to university in Bogota.

The Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, who also serves Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tatang Budie Utama Razak, in his speech, conveyed the history of Indonesia and the progress achieved to date.

According to him, Indonesia has now become one of the countries advancing in the fields of economy, development, infrastructure, and technology.

On that occasion, a video was also shown about pluralism, democracy, and progress in various fields, including the development of Indonesia’s New Capital City, Nusantara. Many guests expressed their desire to visit Indonesia, as well as entrepreneurs who want to cooperate with Indonesia.

The invited guests were entertained with the atmosphere of the Indonesian night by watching art performances and enjoying Indonesian gastronomy.

President Joko Widodo launched the Wanagama Nusantara forest to support the development of the new capital city -Nusantara in the City Forest Zone B of the Government Centre Core Area in East Kalimantan. The declaration of the education and research forest, which will be managed by Gadjah Mada University, was marked by the signing of a charter in Kayu Sukai by President Joko Widodo, and witnessed by Rector of Gadjah Mada University and someMinisters. After the declaration of Wanagama Nusantara forest, President Joko Widodo along with his ministers symbolically planted trees and released several birds followed by the Ministers, UGM Rector, students, partners and communities around Nusantara Capital City.

Wanagama Nusantara is an interdisciplinary and educational research forest development ecosystem that is initiated by Universitas Gadjah Mada in collaboration with the Authority of the Nusantara Capital City and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The forest is located in the core area of the Nusantara Capital Government Centre with an area of 621 hectares. For the initial stage, an area of 28 hectares was developed. Of the total area, in the future there will be expansion by deforestation based on zones. Some of them are tropical forest zones, energy forests, forests for pharmaceuticals, and forests for eco-tourism.

Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada Prof. Ova Emilia hopes Wanagama Nusantara supports the vision of the Nusantara Capital City as Forest City. In addition, he also hopes that Wanagama Nusantara will become a window of the tropical world, with the main programme, including the development of educational forest zoning, the development of the Institute for future life, restoration, reforestation and enrichment planting. The existence of Wanagama Nusantara is certainly part of Universitas Gadjah Mada's commitment in supporting the development of the Nusantara Capital City as a sustainable city.

As an educational and research forest, Wanagama Nusantara Forest is integrated with various disciplines and faculties at Universitas Gadjah Mada. This forest is also expected to be a model of tropical rainforest restoration in regulating hydrology and microclimate in the Nusantara Capital City as well as conservation of native species of tropical rainforests from extinction in the future.