RI to host World Batik Summit in Jakarta

Antara News, Mon, July 11 2011

 The event is expected to attract international`s interest towards batik.

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to hold World Batik Summit 2011 in Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) next September 28 - October 2, a source said.

(ANTARA/ Wahyu Putro A)

"The event is expected to attract international`s interest towards batik," Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam said here on Monday.

Also founder of Batik Indonesia foundation, Dipo said the World Batik Summit was aimed to establish a strong networking between batik makers and lovers around the world.

Meanwhile, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the WBS event would be participated in by 1,000 delegates from Indonesia and abroad. The delegates are coming from various background namely practitioner, academia, marketing and fashion critic.

She said the WBS would become a forum for batik makers to promote their products.

Editor: Ella Syafputri

Jakarta to host Turkey exports fair

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 06/02/2011

The Istanbul Exporters Association (IEA-IIB), in cooperation with the Turkish Embassy in Jakarta, will hold the Turkish Export Product Fair at the Jakarta Convention Center from June 2-4.

“We intend to increase the cooperation between Turkish and Indonesian businessmen in order to develop the bilateral trade relationship between both countries,” IEA-IIB chair Zekariye Mete said Thursday.

This is the second time Turkey has held such a fair in Indonesia.

Thirty-three Turkish companies from various industries including food and beverage, baby products, heavy equipment and furniture will participate.

Zekariye said Indonesia and Turkey were important developing markets.

“Indonesia is a rapidly developing country and has a strategic position in Southeast Asia,” he said as reported by kompas.com.

Govt To Offer 7,000 Jobs At Int`l Marine, Fisheries Fair

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Sat, May 14 2011

Jakarta,  (ANTARA News) - The government will offer at least 7,000 job opportunities in the marine and fishery sector to job seekers at an upcoming International Job Fair on Marine and Fisheries (I`JO F.M 2011).

As part part of the government`s effort to reduce unemployment and to improve the people`s welfare, the I`JO F.M 2011 will be held in Jakarta May 23-25, 2011 to net as many workers as possible.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said here early this week that many countries had expressed their interest in recruiting Indonesian sailors in overseas marine and fishery related industries.

"Following increasing demand for Indonesian sailors from many countries, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) will make a new breakthrough to accommodate the request," Fadel said on Wednesday.

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister admitted that during his visits to Europe, many shipping companies had told him that they needed a lot of Indonesian manpower for their cruise ships.

Fadel said many countries in Europe needed more Indonesian sailors because their own people were no longer interested in seafaring jobs.

According to him, there were a lot of job opportunities abroad for Indonesian sailors and therefore his office would make a breakthrough by creating a cross-ministerial program in the form of International Job Fair on Marine and Fisheries (I`JO F.M 2011).

The minister explained that his office in cooperation with Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, National Education Ministry, and Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry would organize the I`JO F.M 2011.

Meanwhile, head of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry`s Department of Human Resources Development, Syarief Widjaya, said the I`JO F.M 2011 would be the biggest event this year.

Syarif said the event would be participated in by at least 50 leading national and international companies in maritime and fisheries fields, such as fishing companies, fish farming companies, marine and fisheries product processing companies, labor recruitment agencies and other companies.

The International Job Fair on Marine and Fisheries will be a perfect event for job seekers, marine and fisheries related education and training promotion, consultation, job applicants interview, direct recruitment for job applicants, and for opportunity to go abroad.

Syarif also explained that the national and international leading companies in the I`JO F.M 2011 would provide the Indonesian job seekers with around 7,000 job opportunities.

He said various job opportunities were among others in the fields of fishing, aquaculture, and fishery products processing and marketing would be offered to around 30,000 people who were expected visit the international job fair.

Other sectors to be offered to the job seekers in the fair are coastal regions and small islands management especially the area management and conservation of marine tourism, captains, the crews, vessel mechanics, and chefs, fish packing or canning officers, and fisheries shipping transportation services.

In a bid to arrange and manage the increasing overseas demand for marine and fisheries related manpower from Indonesia, Syarif said the government would soon build a marine manpower office.

"The joint marine manpower office is supported by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, National Education Ministry, and Transportation Ministry," Syarief Widjaya said.

He said the joint marine manpower office, expected to permanently organize the International Job Fair on Marine and Fisheries every year, would be declared at the closure of the I`JO F.M 2011.

Besides, he added that the office of the cross-ministerial cooperation would also provide Indonesian job seekers in marine and fishery field with information about job opportunities.

He also said a lot of Indonesian sailors were working abroad at present in the fields of shipping sector, fishery management industries, and aquaculture.

Therefore Indonesian Seamen Association (KPI) Secretary Sonny Pattiselano said the government should consider the protection and safety of Indonesian sailors who were working abroad.

Sonny also highlighted the gap between domestic legislation and international policy, and said that there should be well integrated consolidation rules.

"The involvement of labor union in industrial relations in the maritime and fisheries sector should also be taken into account," Sonny said.

According to maritime affairs minister Fadel Muhammad, around 12,000 Indonesian men are currently working on board various ocean liners across international waters.

"There are around 12,000 Indonesian workers on board both domestic and foreign ships which sail across international waters at present," Fadel said in an economic-related dialog on April 12, 2011.

Fadel admitted that he obtained the data about the number after a hijacking incident of an Indonesian ship with 20 crews by Somali pirates in March.

The minister explained that thousands of Indonesian sailors spread in various regions in Asia and Europe.

According to the minister, there were around 2,000 Indonesian sailors in Spain, 600 in Taiwan, and 400 in Thailand, and 3,000 in Japan.

Therefore he said the sailors had been asked to form an association amongst Indonesian seamen.

"I have asked them to form the association and to remain getting in touch with with Indonesian embassies abroad," Fadel said.

Meanwhile, data from Transportation Ministry in 2010 indicated that the Indonesian sailors working abroad could generate foreign exchange to about one billion dollars per year. 

Finding America's Best Batik Designers

Jakarta Globe, May 03, 2011

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Whether it's Bill Clinton or Jessica Alba, it's clear a myriad of Americans have already been won over by batik. With this in mind, the Indonesian Embassy in the US is holding a batik design competition for American citizens.

A woman draws a batik pattern in Solo.
(Photo: Jurnasyanto Sukarn, JG)

The American Batik Design Competition is aimed at creating a marriage of Indonesia's time-honored batik motif and America's diverse culture. While the end product may still manifest a trait of the original motifs, the design is expected to exhibit American spirit and values.

"The 21st century will be an era of confluence and fusion between cultures,” Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal said during the launch of the event last month.

“This is a perfect time for the rich heritage of Indonesian batik to meet American contemporary designs."

Participants, American citizens 16-years-old and above, have to submit their designs — just the digital design, not on an actual textile — before August 1.

While usual fashion elements such as colorfulness, imagery and composition factor in, key to winning the competition is how the design conveys the contextual meaning of American values through batik.

And of course, the design should be friendly enough to be inked on an actual fabric.

Once the winners have been announced, the digital design will be handed over to the skilled Indonesian batik artists to be translated into a hand-made batik.

The event was first launched on April 8 in Washington DC, and then further introduced in New York and San Francisco, before going to Houston and Chicago this month.

Three first-place winners of the competition will fly to from the US to Indonesia for a two-week batik excursion in a number of cities, while having their designs showcased to aficionados in an exhibition in San Francisco, Washington DC and Jakarta.

For the complete rules and guidelines, click here.

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Ministry launches REDD website

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/18/2011

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan launched on Monday Indonesia's official Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program website, www.redd-indonesia.org.

Published in Indonesian, the website contains information regarding REDD implementation in the country, pilot projects, REDD-related regulations and other environmental information.

The website acts as a reference regarding REDD such as what REDD is and how it works.

It is also linked to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among other social network sites.

Zulkifli launched the website at the 3rd IndoGreen Forestry Expo opening at the Jakarta Convention Center, Antara reported.

@america: Cultural outreach to young foreigners

San Francisco Chronicle, Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times, Sunday, March 6, 2011

Go US: A visitor registers at @america , a hi-tech cultural center|
intended to enable Indonesians to interact with that country on their
own terms. JP/Ricky Yudhistira

PST Jakarta, Indonesia -- On the third floor of a shopping mall, around the corner from a Gap Kids and a Wedgwood china outlet, a new tenant is busily promoting what is perhaps the world's biggest brand: America.

The tenant, called @america, represents the U.S. government's first attempt at creating a full-fledged cultural center since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A high-tech, interactive operation heralded as the digital-age successor to the venerable American Cultural Center, it is also U.S. public diplomacy's latest effort to win over young foreigners, especially in Muslim countries.

Thousands of high school and college students have been bused in from schools in Jakarta, the capital, and its outskirts since @america's opening in December. The technology on display - a giant, supercharged version of Google Earth called Liquid Galaxy, scores of iPads that are available to test, interactive monitors explaining Black History Month - thrilled the teenagers.

It was unclear whether the center had changed their perceptions of the United States, though.

Tech savvy: Young visitors browse
through their e-guides at the @america
center. JP/Ricky Yudhistira

"It doesn't matter what they think of the United States - 'Do you hate us? Do you love us? Are you somewhere in between?' " said Matt McGowan, 36, an American whose company, PT Ganesha Aggies Jaya, has been contracted to run the center.

The State Department's undersecretary for public diplomacy, Judith McHale, described @america as the "first of a new generation of American cultural centers."

Eva Zahrowati, 34, an English teacher at Islamic Senior High School No. 4, said her students had picked up bits of U.S. history during their visit.

She added, however, that the center's location - in one of Jakarta's most tightly guarded malls - created "obstacles" for Indonesians like her students. Visitors must undergo body scans and deposit their bags between two doors to enter @america, and the heavy security had left a bad taste.

"Is America afraid of us?" Zahrowati said.

The technology used by @america impressed Annisa Mutiara, 16, who said her dream was to go to a U.S. university. But Annisa was not swayed by what she assumed was the motivation behind the invitation to her school.

"I believe that America hates Muslims, and I'm a Muslim," she said. "I still believe that after coming here."

@america

Pacific Place Mall 3rd floor #325

Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav.52-53

Kebayoran Baru, Central Jakarta, 12190

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US universities hold US education fair in Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya

Antara News, Tue, February 22 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel, here, Sunday (Feb. 20) spoke at the Spring 2011 EducationUSA Fair, held in partnership with 38 prominent U.S. educational institutions.

U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel (Antara)

The EducationUSA Fair, which was open to the public, included university representatives and presentations on "Study in the USA" and the student visa application process, a press statement of the US Embassy in Jakarta, said here, Tuesday.

The EducationUSA Fair started on Sunday, February 20 in Jakarta, followed by events in Medan on February 22, Semarang on February 24, and Surabaya on February 26 before concluding in Denpasar on February 28.

Attendees will be able to meet university representatives and follow activities through EducationUSA`s website and social media channels, including Facebook, Skype, and Twitter.

The EducationUSA Fair is an annual advising activity coordinated by AMINEF/EducationUSA that provides accurate and impartial information on studying in the United States by facilitating direct interaction between students and university representatives.

This Fair also enhanced students` exposure to the thousands of possibilities of majors, programs, scholarships and assistantship opportunities available at U.S. academic institutions.

The Fair is part of AMINEF`s EducationUSA initiative to contribute to the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Partnership agreement between the governments of the Republic of Indonesia and the United States of America to double the number of Indonesians studying in the U.S. in the next five years.

During the Fair, representatives of the U.S. Embassy Consular Office provided information on the visa application process.

The Consular section welcomes student visa applications and has made the application process as easy as possible. Student visa applicants are guaranteed an appointment on any Monday the Embassy is open.

The Education USA website at www.educationusa.or.id provides more details of the visit agenda along with additional information on universities, courses, and studying in the United States.

Editor: Priyambodo

RI ambassador opens Moscow "Halal" Expo 2010

Antara News, Tuesday, June 8, 2010 01:59 WIB

London (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian ambassador to Russia and Muslim leaders opened an exhibition of "halal" (allowed for Muslims) products, the very first of its kind in Russia, the International Moscow Halal Expo 2010, at Crocus Expo, Moscow, from June 7 to 9, 2010.

The 60 participants came from Russia, Belarussia, Germany, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Indonesia, Counsellor at the Indonesian embassy in Moscow Aji Surya told Antara`s London correspondent Monday.

Aji Surya said the exhibition is an answer to the needs of the 25 million Muslims in Rusia.

The event not only displays food and drinks, but also cosmetics, household utensils, and souvenirs.

Five Indonesian companies have sent their products.

On the occasion of the expo, a conference was also held on the development of an Islamic financial system in Russia, business meetings, and fashion shows.

By the end of June, a team from the religious ministry will provide supplies and directives on the management of the haj pilgrimage.

Indonesia mantles $10 million bamboo house in Shanghai

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Shanghai | Sat, 05/01/2010 10:30 AM

First strike: Indonesian delegation, represented by among others (from right to left), Indonesian Ambassador to China Imron Cotan, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa play a gamelan music instrument to officially open the Indonesian pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on Saturday. – JP/Primastuti Handayani

The government of Indonesia is using the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, as a stepping stone to nation branding, which is constantly being redefined and improved, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here Friday.

In Shanghai, the government has built a US$10 million pavilion that depicts a tropical-themed house using bamboo. The 2,400-square-meter pavilion will be officially opened for the public Saturday, the day the expo opens.

Mari emphasized that Indonesia’s participation in the five yearly event was to showcase the progress that had the government had achieved, as well as answer misperceptions the public might have about Indonesia such as it being unsafe, undemocratic and marred with corruption.

“We want to use the expo to show how wonderful Indonesia is,” she said.

“We hope our participation at the event can increase the number of tourists from China. Data from the visa issuance shows that about 350,000 Chinese tourists visit Indonesia annually. The figure, however, is lower compared to other Southeast Asian countries.”

Edy Putra Irawadi, deputy to the coordinating economic minister, in charge of industry and trade, said that Indonesia’s participation at the expo covered many regions in the archipelago.

The government hopes to net Rp 1 trillion (US$110.8 million) in transactions at the six-month long event from a multiplying effect tourism, trade and investment sectors can produce. To further herald the Indonesia brand, the government will host a series of other international events such as the ASEAN Summit and the SEA Games next year, as well as the 2013 APEC meeting.

“By hosting those events, Indonesia will be under the spotlight. We have plenty of homework to do, especially in the service sector,” she said after visiting the China and Japan pavilions at the expo with Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa.

“We should provide better services, especially at the country’s entrances such as airports. We have an advantage in our role as host for ASEAN, as the bloc is holding meetings throughout the year. As for the APEC meeting, we should consider if we need to build new hotels or convention centers.”

All natural: The Green School in Bali features bamboo construction engineered into a more modern look. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono

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RI to exhibit cultural, natural richness

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 04/29/2010 9:03 AM

Less than a week before the kickoff of the World Expo Shanghai China (WESC) 2010, the organizers announced tickets for the May 1 opening day were sold out.

Such great enthusiasm reflects the pride of the Chinese government in hosting the event — dubbed the third largest in the world after the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup. The organizers have issued some tips on the World Expo’s website for would-be visitors, which include finding the entrances and wearing comfortable walking shoes.

For the government of Indonesia, this year’s World Expo is very special. It is the second time Indonesia has had its own pavilion at the event. The first time was in New York in 1964, where Indonesia also participated as an independent country. During the Dutch colonial era, Indonesia, then named the Dutch Indies, took part in the event in Chicago in 1893.

A total of 192 countries and 50 multinational corporations have confirmed their participation at the six-month-long event that will end on Oct. 31. The event is expected to attract 70 million visitors from around the globe, the organizers said on its website en.expo2010.cn.

Indonesia’s Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said recently that the presence of the Indonesia pavilion in the expo “is proof of the efforts to position the country on the world map.

“It will enhance Indonesia’s image as a country possessing rich cultural, natural… resources and a rich civilization,” said Mari, who chairs the Indonesian participation committee.

For Indonesia, this nation branding exercise — the term nation branding was first coined by author and British government adviser Simon Anholt — is to showcase the country’s potential and achievements in economic growth, democracy and politics, as well as culture.

What makes Indonesia’s participation more special is that the year 2010 marks the 60th anniversary of Indonesia-China diplomatic ties. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had to cancel his state visit to Jakarta, slated for April 23, following the earthquake in Yushu county that killed over 2,000 people.

At the 5.28-square-kilometer WESC, the Indonesian pavilion will be located in Zone B along with pavilions for Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines and other international organizations, including the United Nations. The 2,400-square-meter pavilion is built on a 4,000-square-meter plot of land.

The Indonesian pavilion carries the theme “Indonesia Biodiver City”, in line with the WESC grand theme “Better City, Better Life”.

To showcase the theme, the pavilion is covered with greenish bamboo stems, some of them growing out

of the ceiling. The use of bamboo reflects the synergy between the traditional and contemporary lifestyle

in Indonesia.

The pavilion’s interior will highlight Indonesia’s diverse culture, influenced by China following the arrival of Admiral Cheng Ho, or Zheng He, of China, in the 1400s, and by Buddhism as represented by the Borobudur temple relief inside the pavilion and others.

The pavilion will include a restaurant serving Indonesian food and a special corner for Komodo dragons where visitors can vote for the beast to be among the world’s New Seven Wonders of Nature.

“Every single aspect of the display [at the pavilion] will reflect our true character as a nation,” Mari said.

The government chose “Indonesia is” as the country’s tagline.

Indrani Buntarian, the communication specialist on Indonesia’s committee, said the tagline was aimed at sending a positive message about Indonesia to the whole world.

“This event is important for Indonesia because it is a place where we can build a ‘conversation’ with other countries,” she said.

Mari said that by promoting Indonesia, foreign investors were expected to invest in Indonesia, and the WESC was tipped to bring a multiplying effect in tourism, trade and investment. The government aims to earn Rp 1 trillion (US$110.8 million) in transactions at the event.

Indonesia’s committee has an agreement with flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to be the expo’s official airline for both Indonesian delegates and the public. Garuda is the only Indonesian airline linking Shanghai with Jakarta.

Garuda Indonesia’s president and CEO Emirsyah Satar expressed hope that the WESC would help raise the number of passengers using its Jakarta-Shanghai service by between 10 and 15 percent, from last year’s 60,000 passengers.

President opens "Inacraft 2010" in Bali

Antara News, Wednesday, April 21, 2010 16:40 WIB

Tampak Siring (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the 12th Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (Inacraft 2010) at Tampak Siring Palace here on Wednesday.

On the occasion the head of state said the handicraft industry in Indonesia played a strategic role in the country`s economy because it had a big market opportunity and absorbed a great number of manpower.

"The important and strategic theme for the handicraft trade fair this year is from a smart village to a global market, because it is a strategic industry that can absorb a great number of manpower," President Yudhoyono said.

According to the head of state, many parties had a profound interest in handicraft products because of their profitable sale prices and inspiration.

"I am optimistic that various handicraft products in the country can bridge cultural relations among nations around the world," the president said.

Therefore, the head of state reminded the craftsmen to continue to develop their idea, creativity, and improving the quality in the tight global market competition.

Global market, according to the president, would highly respect safe and environmentally-friendly products.

"Handicraft industry can really support the people`s economic power, and therefore we need to improve the design, quality, and packing system, and trademark," the president said.

On the occasion the head of state also asked the craftsmen to have self-confidence following the implementation of Asean Free Trade Area and China-Asean Free Trade Agreement.

"Have self-confidence in the face of Asean Free Trade Area and China-Asean Free Trade Agreement, because the government will make an all-out effort to make a policy to strengthen the national economy," the president said.

President Yudhoyono added that with the free trade area, Indonesia would be able to have wider opportunity in attracting as many investors as possible.

"We are tested to be able to come out of transitional period in the trade era because it is our role to build a profitable but fair world economic architecture," he added.

CN-235 to be displayed at expo Indonesia 2010 in Bangladesh

Antara News, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 19:54 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - CN-235, a product of Indonesia`s strategic airplane industry PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), will be displayed at Expo Indonesia 2010 in Bangladesh on May 11 to 13, 2010.

Indonesian ambassador in Dhaka Zet Mirzal Zainuddin said the exhibition will display various export products of strategic and non-strategic industries in Indonesia.

Some of the products of strategic industries included CN-235 of PT DI, military vehicles and equipment of PT PINDAD, and railway coaches of PT INKA.

The automotive products also to be displayed at the event will include multi purpose vehicles like Suzuki APV, Toyota Avanza, and GT products.

Expo Indonesia 2010 will have the theme "Integrated Expo 2010: Discover Indonesia, the Beauty Unlimited".

Forum kicks off, $5b worth of projects on offer

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 04/15/2010 9:37 AM

Asia’s premier infrastructure forum, Infrastructure Asia 2010, kicked off in Jakarta on Wednesday with the host country, Indonesia, showcasing projects worth US$5 billion under its public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Among the high-profile projects offered is the 10,000 kilometer beneath-the-sea fiber optic cable that will connect Papua with the rest of the country’s broadband telecommunications network.

Indonesia is also offering another project that will directly link the country’s broadband network to Australia.

The projects are estimated to cost Rp 5.5 trillion (US$610.5 million) and up to Rp 2 trillion respectively.

Communications and Information m Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring said the broadband connection to Papua would be the final phase of an ambitious project to connect all the telecommunication hubs in the country through a 50,000-kilometer-long fiber-optic cable.

“We just managed to build up to Sulawesi,” he said, adding that Papua is the only major island that has yet to have a fiber-optic cable broadband connection.

Now state telecommunications firm PT Telkom is building 1,500 kilometers of fiber-optic cables connecting Mataram and Kupang worth Rp 800 billion, he said.

Tifatul said the broadband connection to Australia would stretch from Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara to Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. The connection will serve as an alternative route to connect to the global telecommunications network.

“Now the only one we have is Jakarta-Singapore-Taiwan-US. If it breaks down we lose all connections,” he said.

The planned Kupang-Darwin connection, he said, “may cost Rp 1 trillion to Rp 2 trillion,” adding that Australian firms will likely be interested in the project.

Tifatul expects that when the broadband projects are completed in 2012 Internet connections will be faster and more reliable answering complaints addressed by users that internet connections in Indonesia are often slow.

He also said the ministry aims to raise the number of mobile phone users to 100 percent of Indonesia’s 230 million population. “Now we have 130 million users,” he said.

In the exhibition, other infrastructure projects offered for this year include those in transportations, roads, ports, airports, energy and housing.

Projects include 2x1,000-megawatt coal-fired power plants in Pemalang, Central Java, which would require between $2.6 and $3.0 billion in investment; coal-transporters and a railway in Central Kalimantan connecting Purukcahu and Bangkuang, requiring between $1 and $1.2 billion; a waste-management power plant in Bandung, West Java, costing $120 to $150 million; and a water supply project in Umbulan, East Java, requiring between $300 and $400 million, to provide water to cities including Sidoarjo, Pasuruan, Surabaya and Gresik.

The Infrastructure Asia exhibition, held at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Jakarta, is supported by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in association with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The exhibition is held in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on PPPs for infrastructure development, where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to deliver a speech today.

The conference is expected to result in a joint declaration on infrastructure development by all the attending ministers.

Solo Batik Carnival to be held in Netherlands

Tempo Interactive, Tuesday, 30 March, 2010 | 17:42 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Surakarta: The Surakarta Cultural Office will send six members of the Solo Batik Carnival to The Hague, Netherlands, today. They have been invited by the Embassy of Indonesia in the Netherlands to perform at the Indonesia Night Market event, to be held in early April in The Hague. “All expenses will be paid by the Foreign Ministry,” said the Head of the Surakarta Cultural Office, Purnomo Subagyo, yesterday. The costumes to be worn in the performances have the sekar jagat motif. According to Subagyo, the motif is varied and lively, appropriate for a costume party.

Similar costumes have been worn at the Chingai Festival in Singapore, last February. According to Purnomo, the six persons selected are among Solo Batik Carnival participants in Singapore. He hoped that by sending these cultural ambassadors, Surakarta’s tourism image in the Netherlands can improve. “Moreover, Indonesia is quite well known in the country,” said Purnomo. The performers will be given travel brochures on this year’s Surakarta cultural agenda to be distributed in The Netherlands. The Indonesia Night Market is held by the Indonesian Embassy and the Indonesian community living in the Netherlands. The event will exhibit various Indonesian cultural attractions.

AHMAD RAFIQ

Pasar Malam Indonesia, The Hague

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Pakistan, Indonesia have a joint art exhibition

The Jakarta Post, Sun, 03/14/2010 3:53 PM

INDONESIA: More than 150 works of art by Pakistani and Indonesian artists will be displayed at an exhibition at the Pakistan Embassy that runs from March 16 to 22.

The works of prominent Pakistani artist Ayesha Khan can also be seen at the event, organized by the Pakistan Embassy in collaboration with members of the Pakistani community.

Ayesha Khan has been a professional artist for more than 23 years and is well versed in the use of water colors, oils, acrylics, pastels and graphic design.

Some of Ambassador Sanaullah's paintings will also be displayed at the exhibition.

Among the Indonesian artists, masterpieces of the past and present artists, including Irsam, Luthfi, Hidayat Ambon, Koempol, Pardolli Fadli, Very Apriyanto, Iton and Pugo Tujahjono, will be on display. - JP

Indonesia to host world food exposition next week

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/23/2010 12:48 PM

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is gearing up to host an international conference and exhibition on food, aimed at introducing domestic producers to the global market.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will launch the two-day "Feed the World" event on Jan. 28 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Hundreds of participants - including food producers, business associations, academics and international bodies - will take part.

Several Cabinet ministers will speak at the event, as well as representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international institutions.

Among those slated to deliver presentations at the event's seminars are Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Forestry Ministry Zulkifli Hasan, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi.

Industry Minister Mohamad Suleman Hidayat, also the Kadin chairman, said Friday at a press conference that participants would showcase innovations and various types of new products from the agricultural, plantation, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery sectors.

"We want to show the world that we're not just going to fulfill domestic food demand, but also help meet the world's food needs," he said.

In its 2009-2014 road map on food development, the government is looking to promote 10 key commodities: the four "strategic commodities" of rice, corn, soybean and sugar, and the six export-potential commodities of palm oil, tea, coffee, cacao, shrimp and tuna.

Hidayat said the road map was the first step for the government to achieve the target of making Indonesia a top food-producing nation by 2030.

Indonesia is currently the world's biggest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), accounting for 47 percent of global production. CPO pro-duction is expected to reach 23.6 million tons this year, an 18 percent increase from last year's total of 20 million tons.

The road map allows domestic CPO producers to expand their plantations from a total 7.9 million hectares as of the end of 2009 to 9.7 million hectares in 2015.

The expansion is expected to help boost output to 36.6 million tons.

Production of another key crop, coffee, is expected to reach 737,000 tons this year, or 142 percent more than domestic consumption. The 433,000-ton surplus will be exported, under the road map.

Coffee exports are expected to increase by 4.69 annually until 2020, when 636,000 tons of the total production of 973,000 tons is expected to be exported. (bbs)

RI embassy in Moscow to hold series of expos

Antara News, Saturday, January 16, 2010 23:47 WIB

London (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian embassy in Moscow plans to organize a number of exhibitions this year to mark the 60th anniversary of Indonesia-Russia diplomatic ties.

Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Hamid Awaludin is paying special attention to the effort to enhance economic ties between the two nations, spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow Aji Surya said in a statement issued to an Antara correspondent in London on Friday.

The series of exhibitions are part of the efforts to help improve the performance of the Indonesian economy amidst the global economic recovery, Aji said.

Aji said Ambassador Awaludin hoped Indonesian businesspeople to take optimum advantage of the exhibitions to promote their products.

"The participation of the Indonesian businesspeople in the expos is a must if they want to make progress," the ambassador said.

Among the exhibitions will be International World Food Expo and Gift Handicraft Expo to be held in September 2010.

To make the events a success, the embassy will cooperate with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), the National Agency for Export Development (BPEN), the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the Secretariat of the Integrated Economic Zones (KAPET), the Batam Authority and regional governments.

Two-way trade between Indonesia and Russia reached an estimated US$1.5 billion last year.

Solo SMEs to participate in Singapore Chingay Parade

Antara News, Thursday, January 14, 2010 15:57 WIB

Solo, C Java (ANTARA News) - Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Central Java`s city of Solo have prepared various handicraft goods to participate in the Chingay parade in Singapore which will take place on February 19-22, 2010.

The handicraft products, mostly Batik cloth, are expected to enliven the international event, head of the cooperatives and UKM Solo office, Febria Roekmie (Evy) said here on Thursday.

"The handicraft goods include batik masks, batik bracelets, and batik cloth are aimed to support the contingent from Solo," Roekmie said.

A total of 50 countries will take part in the annual Chingay parade, she said, adding that batik is not only used for making dresses.

Meanwhile, head of Culture and Tourism Solo office, Purnomo Subagyo said Indonesia in the event is given a quota for 150 participants while other countries such as Malaysia, China and Japan only 20 participants each at the most.

Indonesia to take part in biggest tourism bourse in Netherlands

Antara News, Friday, January 8, 2010 11:25 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will take part in the biggest tourist bourse in the Netherlands, Vakantiebeurs on January 12-17, 2010.

"The Ministry of Culture and Tourism along with the Indonesian embassy in The Hague facilitate 20 tourism industries (hotels and travel agencies) will take part in Vakantiebeurs in Utrecht, the Netherlands," Marketing Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Sapta Nirwandar said in Jakarta Thursday.

Sapta who will be leading the Indonesian delegation planned to bring along teams of artists from Maluku, West Sumatera, and East Nusa Tenggara.

They will hold a cultural performance and an Indonesia Night highlighted by singing legend Bob Tutupoli and a fashion show by Oscar Lawalata.

"Indonesia will be the host partner country at Vakantiebeurs 2010, for which the Indonesian delegation will not only occupay the largest pavilion covering 154 m2 at Island Location, but will also have the privilege in occupying 349 m2 at hall 2 (Indonesia Area) for cultural and artistic promotion or non-commercial activities," he said.

The organizers will also give Indonesia a time slot for cultural performances every day during the exhibition prime time of Vakantiebeurs.

"Indonesia`s participation in Vakantiebeurs 2010 is a very important momentum because starting June 1, 2010 Garuda Indonesia vill be flying the Jakarta-Amsterdam route via Dubai every day by Airbus A330-200," Sapta said.

Vakantiebeurs or Holiday Fair is the biggest tourist exhibition in Holland, and also a trade and consumer fair. Last year Vakantiebeurs was joined by 1,630 participants from 160 different countries, and attended by 132,961 visitors.

The Netherlands is an important market for Indonesia`s tourism for the European region. The number of Dutch tourists visiting Indonesia in 2008 reached 141,202, up by 26.21 percent compared to the 111,882 in 2007, while last year the projected number of Dutch tourists coming to Indonesia reached 135,000, and in the January-November 2009 period reached 132,184, up by 6.3 percent, compared to the same period last year.

The market of Dutch tourists is very promising, in which 10 percent or 1.6 million of the 16.7 million Dutch population has a historical bond with Indonesia, while the number of outbound Dutch tourists reached 6 million per year.

The Indonesian delegation to Vakantiebeurs will also provide information, hold awareness campaigns, press conferences, industrial gatherings, hospitality, batik and spa demonstrations, and coffee corners.

Twenty tourist industries taking part in the even are Panorama Destination (Jakarta), Bali Garden Beach Resort, Miracle Batik (Yogyakarta), Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa (Bali), Limbunan Tours and Travel Services (Sulawesi Selatan), Exotic Java Trails (W Java), Aerowisata International (Jakarta), Nikko Bali Resort & Spa , Synergi Ravelino Tours & Travel (North Sumatera, Daya Patal Tour and Travel ((Maluku), Deva Tour & Travel Reizen (Netherlands), Vista Ekspress (Jakarta), Smarag Reizen (Netherlands), Suita Tours and Travel (South Sulawesi), TA/TO of the Netherlands, Nusa Andika Tour and Travel (Bali), Nuansa Bali Tours and Travel (Bali), Trans Borneo Adventure, and Melia Bali (Bali).

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Vakantiebeurs.nl

Indonesia aims to reap Rp 1 trillion from Shanghai Expo

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/22/2009 4:00 PM

Indonesia needs Rp 104 billion (US$10.92 million) to participate in Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, from May to October next year, but is aiming to reap Rp 1 trillion in total transactions, an official said Tuesday.

"Our target includes export goods, investment and tourism ... There will be business missions, trade missions, business forums, product and cultural promotions during the six months," Edy Putra Irawadi, deputy to the coordinating economic minister in charge of industry and trade, said after a meeting with the industry minister.

The Rp 104 billion budget will be used to rent a 4,000 square meter booth. In 2003, Indonesia spent Rp 20 billion to rent a 324 square meter booth, he said.

Industry Minister MS Hidayat said the government would make international-standard preparations for the expo, hiring professional event organizers.