VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Some countries, including Indonesia are facing an economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. To survive, contributions from all sectors, including sharia economy and finance are necessary in accelerating the national economic recovery. This means sharia economy and finance can be an alternative.

On Tuesday (29/6), Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that sharia economy and finance are not only to accelerate economic recovery but also to support a just and sustainable Indonesian economic growth.

The development of the sharia economy and finance in Indonesia was appreciated by the world. Refinitiv Islamic Finance Development Report 2020 placed Indonesia as the world's 2nd of the Most Developed Countries in Islamic Finance. Meanwhile, Global Islamic Economy Indicator 2020/2021 placed Indonesia as the world's top 4th for sharia economy and 6th for sharia finance.

The world's recognition gave Indonesia great confidence. Indonesian sharia economy and finance will increase further.

This great confidence was supported by the big potential that Indonesia possesses to develop the sharia economy and finance. This potential is shown by several things.

First, Indonesia has 230 million Muslim population. Then, based on the data from Financial Services Authority (OJK) in 2020, the sharia finance industry asset growth was 21.48% into 1,770.32 trillion rupiahs. This is a significant growth and it can be greater if the Muslim population is actively involved in the sharia finance industry.

Second, still from OJK, in 20129, the sharia economic growth was 5.72%. Third, Indonesian halal industry is also improving. In 2020, Indonesian halal industry trade value such as food, cosmetics, medicine, travel, and fashion reached US$3 billion dollars.

To optimize these potentials, it needs innovation and creativity of sharia financial services industry players. Then, technology adoption needs to also go further to follow the ever fast and dynamic developments. Lastly, it will require some skilled and expert human resources in sharia economy and finance to follow all economic and technological dynamics.

Indonesian government through the Manpower Ministry joined hands with Austrian Government in developing a maritime skill training center (BLK) in Serang, Banten. Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah gave appreciation to Austrian government for their commitment in supporting the maritime skill training center development in Indonesia. Minister Ida Fauizyah said that during the MoU signing, Forum for Communication between Training Center and Industry (FKLPI) board inauguration, and the Maritime Skill Training Center Development first milestone planting at the Job Training Development Center (BBPLK) Serang Banten on Monday (28/06).

Ida Fauziyah said the maritime skill training center development project scope includes four main working components. They are building construction, training equipment procurement, curriculum development, program syllabus, and training modules that meet with the Europe-recognized Austrian standards which are recognized in Europe. The training will be adjusted to the local needs in Indonesia.

Minister Ida Fauziyah further explained the cooperation is a comprehensive development of the four existing vocational trainings namely mechanical, welding, electrical, and mechatronic engineering, with special strengthening for welding and electrical engineering.

Meanwhile, Austrian Ambassador for Indonesia Johannes Peterlik also appreciated the maritime vocational training workshop at Serang Job Training Development Center. The Austrian embassy will keep monitoring the project development. This cooperation is expected to give a significant contribution, not only for the people around the Serang Job Training Development Center, but also Indonesian welding and electric industry in the future.

The Indonesian Embassy in Budapest held again the Indonesian Week activity to promote Indonesian arts and cultures and to entertain Hungarians. In its statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta on Tuesday (29/6), the Indonesian Embassy stated that the Indonesian Week activity initiated received a warm welcome from the Hungarian people, particularly in Szeged and Budapest cities.

The Indonesian Week activity is the first activity which was allowed to organize in the Szeged City, one of the major cities in Hungary, since the social restrictions were lifted. Indonesian Week activities consist of an exhibition of photos of the beauty of Indonesia by the famous photographer from Bali, Mario Blanco,Indonesian traditional  dance performances, and Gamelan music performances.

Indonesian Ambassador to Hungary, Dimas Wahab, in his opening remarks hoped that through the activity, the Hungarian people and other foreigners in Hungary are interested in visiting Indonesia when the corona pandemic subsides. Indonesian Week at the Szent Gyorgy Albert Agora building in Szeged City from June 25 to early July 2021, performed 10 photos by Mario Blanco from almost all regions of Indonesia. Moreover, the event also performed a Javanese Gamelan music performance under-control of the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest. This performance amazed the Hungarian people, because the players are Hungarians, who got the opportunity to study Gamelan in Indonesia through the Darmasiswa Scholarship program.

Meanwhile, for the activities in Budapest which were harmonized with the Hungarian Government's Night of Museum program, the Indonesian Embassy held more interactive traditional dance and music performances with the audience on June 26, 2021. The dancers and the Balinese Rindik players, a traditional musical instrument made of Bamboo, provided short training for visitors to learn the Indonesian dances and learn to beat the Rindik. The Balinese Rindik is also played by Hungarians, alumni of Darmasiswa Indonesia, while the dancers are Indonesian diasporas and Hungarian citizens who love Indonesia.

The dance is created from the fairy tales of the people of Ogan Kemering Ilir, South Sumatra. It tells about the greatness of a princess, who has strength in her index finger. Allegedly, when the princess points her finger up, the thunder will blaze.

Generally, Puteri Telunjuk Sakti dance is performed by five or more female dancers. It depends on the size of the stage. But, the number must be odd, because one person must act as the princess. The dance movement is dominated by hand movements which symbolize women have power, namely in their actions. At the beginning of the dance, four dancers will form a sitting cross-legged formation, and the princess will continue to dance by getting on a higher place. At the end, all the dancers will take out a dagger and draw it into the sky as a symbol of the true power of women. The dance is accompanied by a combination of traditional South Sumatran musical instruments, including drums, gongs, percussion, and other percussion instruments, and it is also given a touch of accordion as a characteristic of Sumatran Malay music. These various musical instruments are combined with other modern musical instruments, such as guitar and bass.

The dancers of Puteri Telunjuk Sakti wear traditional South Sumatran clothes which are dominated by gold color. The head is decorated with a siger which is equipped with a knitted jasmine flower. While the bottom part of the dancer's clothes is wrapped in black Songket cloth with floral motifs. The left and right hips of the dancers are equipped with scarves and tucked into a dagger.

The dance shows the masculine side of women. In this case, women are actually strong figures and even have hidden strengths. By taking the fairy tale of the princess in its movements, the dance of Puteri Telunjuk Sakti breaks the hegemony of masculine culture. The dance also shows how the people of Ogan Komering Ilir really respect the position of women.