VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) carried out a joint Indonesian-Chinese expedition on an expedition to the deepest point in the Java Trench. It aims to explore Indonesia's rich marine biodiversity. This deep sea research was done in the Hadal zone of the Java Trench stretching 3,200 km covering southern Sumatra, Java, Bali to Nusa Tenggara. The expedition participants consisted of 4 Indonesian researchers, 15 Chinese researchers, a security team from Indonesia and 40 research ship crew. The dive started on February 28, 2024 and ended in the waters around Ujung Kulon on March 22, 2024.

Marine microbiology researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency, Yustian Rovi Alfiansah, said that the Java Trench expedition aims to explore the richness of marine biodiversity in order to benefit Indonesia. The Java Trench expedition provides new information regarding the unique geology, biology and environment of the Sunda subduction zone and its potential impact on the ecosystem of the Java Trench. This expedition was done by the Directorate of Research Ship Fleet Management, BRIN and the Institute for Deep Sea Research and Engineering (IDSSE), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The research vessel used is 94.45 meters long and 17.9 meters wide with a main engine of 12,000 horsepower and a range of 10,000 nautical miles. The expedition was carried out by using the Tan Suo Yi Hao research vessel and the Fendouzhe research submarine with two passengers and one pilot.

The Java Trench Expedition is part of the Global Trench Exploration and Dive Program (Global TREnD). Yustian Rovi Alfiansyah also said that the joint expedition team was trying to dig up information about the Java Trench, including obtaining information about the deepest point of the Java Trench with the various potentials it contains. He also thanked Prof. Xiaotong Peng, the expedition leader, gave him the opportunity to become an Indonesian researcher who dived in the Java Trench using a mini-submarine to research China's deep sea.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Indonesian Consulate General in Cape Town held a coordination meeting on public services and protection of Indonesian citizens on March 27-29, 2024 in Cape Town South Africa.

A press statement received in Jakarta Thursday (28/3) said the meeting was attended by 10 Indonesian representatives in the African region namely the Indonesian Embassies of Abuja Addis Ababa Antananarivo Dakar Dares Salam Harare Maputo Nairobi Pretoria and the Indonesian Consulate General in Cape Town.

In his speech. Indonesian Consul General Cape Town. Tudiono. expressed his full support for this activity. The coordination meeting also sought to increase service capacity and protection for Indonesian citizens. including ship crew. In 2018 Indonesian Seafarer Corner was established for Indonesian ship crew in Cape Town.

The parties involved agreed on the preparation of an integrated contingency plan for the African region. especially regarding crisis situations that threaten the safety of Indonesian citizens abroad. They also agreed on the importance of accelerating digital transformation in public services which is conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian Representatives. in order to realize excellent public service.

Apart from that they also agreed to carry out technical guidance on public services regularly both in person and online meetings to increase the capacity of service providers. Efforts to protect Indonesian citizens in dealing with the law in foreign countries can be seen from the number of cases in the African region. During 2022-2023 the number of cases handled by Indonesian Representatives reached 208 or 2.44 percent of the total cases of Indonesian citizens in foreign countries.

The Indonesian Citizen protection system also continues to be built and strengthened among other things, building an Integrated Protection and Service System for Indonesian Citizens abroad namely the Indonesian Citizen Care Portal and the Safe Travel application. The Indonesian Consulate General in Cape Town also strengthens regulations and innovative policies such as building a Shelter for Crew Members and appointing a strong Legal Team for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens in countries where most Indonesian citizens live in

Five Indonesian citizens and Japan who became volunteers in responding to the Ishikawa earthquake disaster, Kanazawa Prefecture, Japan received the Ambassador Award from the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan, Heri Akhmadi. The ambassador gave awards for their contribution in treating affected victims. According to Ambassador Heri Akhmadi in a Press Release from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Friday (22/3), this award was an appreciation of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo to the parties who had made efforts since the earthquake occurred, to collect data, communicate, coordinate and distribute aid to affected Indonesian citizens.

Moreover, the Ambassador Award recipients are Nengsih and Tsuchida Naoto, Hikmah Balbeid and Matsui Seiji, and Wawan Supriyanto. The Award was also given to the Toyama Muslim Center (TMC) which also played a role in providing logistical assistance to earthquake victims, including affected Indonesian citizens.

In addition, Ambassador Heri Akhmadi conveyed that this award was not only a symbol of the attention and gratitude of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo for the efforts made for Indonesian citizens, but also a reminder of the importance of togetherness and close coordination between the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo and the local community, particularly in efforts to protect Indonesian citizens. The number of Indonesian citizens affected by the Ishikawa earthquake reached 183 people, consisting of 145 men and 38 women in nine points in Ishikawa Prefecture, namely Ogi, Suzu, Saikai, Wajima, Nanao, Anamizu, Uchinada, Nakanoto and Naomi. Besides, it was also recorded that several Indonesian students who were traveling in the Ishikawa area and surrounding areas were also affected, including nine students at the Isurugi-Toyama shelter, 10 students at the Morinosato-Kanazawa Elementary School shelter, and six people at the Toyama shelter.

Currently there are 1,351 Indonesian citizens in Ishikawa Prefecture. Meanwhile in Kanazawa City there are 481 Indonesian citizens. The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has also sent staff to Ishikawa to provide direct logistical assistance to affected Indonesian citizens who are still not reached. The assistance provided includes drinking water, staple foods such as bread and rice, instant side dishes and other food ingredients.

Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf, handed over a Certificate of Appreciation to the Food Land Import & Export and Commercial Agencies in Alexandria City, Egypt on Thursday (21/3). The certificate was received by Directors of Food Land Import & Export and Commercial Agencies, Tamer Nasyat El Hennawy, and Ahmed Nasyat El Hennawy.

Ambassador Lutfi in a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Friday (22/3) said that the cooperation that has been well established is expected to continue to increase in the future and provide benefits for both parties. He also remarked that this cooperation at the Business-to-Business level has made a significant contribution to encouraging trade cooperation between the two countries. He added that the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo is ready to provide support in efforts to increase trade cooperation of both countries.

Meanwhile, the Trade Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Syahran Bhakti said that the Certificate of Appreciation is an important award for importers of Indonesian products as well as a means to increase exports of non-oil and gas products to the world market which is given directly by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade. The awarding of the Certificate of Appreciation is expected to increase bilateral trade with recognition of the commitment of Egyptian companies as exporting partners of Indonesian products.

Food Land Import & Export and Commercial Agencies has been importing Indonesian tobacco products for the past 10 years and importing Indonesian Robusta coffee beans for the last three years. In 2023, the company imported more than 1,000 tonnes of Indonesian coffee beans worth US$3.5 million or around IDR 53.31 billion. This year, the company targets importing 1,500 tons of Indonesian Robusta coffee. The company also plans to expand its trade by exporting Indonesian coffee to Algeria, Libya, and Morocco via Egypt.

Based on a report by the Egyptian Bureau of Statistics (CAPMAS), Indonesian coffee bean exports to the Egyptian market in 2023 were ranked first with an export value of US$92.96 million or around IDR 1.46 trillion and controlled a market share of 42.69 percent.