VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Tourists are carrying out the Melukat tradition or cleansing the soul at the Tirta Empul temple, Bali (Photo : Pura Tirta Empul Doc) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Indonesian government will present various side events and art and cultural exhibitions at the 10th World Water Forum which will take place on 18-25 May 2024 in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Delegates and participants, apart from being involved in the main forum, are expected to also experience the atmosphere of Bali.

This was said by the Deputy Chair of the Secretariat of the 10th World Water Forum National Committee who is also Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) for Technology, Industry and the Environment, Endra S. Atmawidjaja in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

Endra emphasized that the world's largest water forum, which was held for the first time in Indonesia, also involved many stakeholders, so that its implementation was carefully prepared.

Both regarding the main forum and events outside the forum, such as fairs and expos and the variety of arts and culture displayed.

“It is an honor for Indonesia to be able to host the 10th World Water Forum. "We want the participants who attend not only to take part in the main forum, but also to experience the different atmosphere of Bali," said Endra in a press release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

Indonesia as the host has prepared 280 sessions at the 10th World Water Forum, including 55 side events and 10 special sessions.

The series of events will open with the Balinese Water Purification Ceremony, which is a typical Balinese traditional ritual with the concept of the Rahina Tumpek Uye activity and the Segara Kerthi Ceremony.

In line with Endra's statement, in a separate statement, the Head of Division V of the 10th Fair and Expo World Water Forum and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno revealed that the main support that will be provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) is by facilitating the delegation to explore the Melukat procession which has spiritual meaning for the Balinese people.

This Melukat procession will later involve the local regional government.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will also participate in the Indonesia Pavilion by providing tourism content with virtual reality (VR), selling low carbon tour packages, a series of Fairs and Expos, providing Wonderful Indonesia souvenirs and goodie bags, presenting content and activating the Lokapala game, as well as exhibiting and selling products -Selected and quality Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) products through planograms.

The opening of the Fair and Expo will be held on May 20 2024 at the Nusa Dua Hall Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC). The Fair and Expo locations will be spread across the BNDCC area, Baruna Disaster Shelter in Kuta, and Bali Collection in Nusa Dua.

After the 10th series of World Water Forum activities are completed, participants will also be invited to a field trip to enjoy the beauty of Bali such as the Water Museum in Tabanan, Jatiluwih UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lake Batur Kintamani, and Ubud Cultural Village//VOI

VOInews, Jakarta : The Republic of Indonesia delegation from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) participated in the 2024 Annual General Assembly (AGA) and 35th PIANC World Congress, at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) Cape Town, South Africa, from 26 April to 3 May 2024.

In a written statement on Tuesday (7/5/2024), the Indonesian delegation was led by the Assistant Deputy for Connectivity Infrastructure, Rahman Hidayat (President of PIANC Indonesia); Assistant Deputy for Basic Infrastructure, Urban Affairs and Water Resources, Lukijanto; Middle Expert Policy Analyst/ Shipping Infrastructure Coordinator, Velly Asvaliantina (Secretary of PIANC Indonesia).

Deputy Rahman said that Indonesia's participation in the Annual General Assembly meeting and World Congress was very important to strengthen the global network of water transportation infrastructure, there was a lot of progress and learning that could be gained.

PIANC President, Francisco Esteban Lefler, called on all stakeholders to join hands in advancing Smart Port Technology for the common good, taking advantage of this moment to chart a course towards a more sustainable and prosperous maritime future.

PIANC, as a professional organization in the field of Water Transport Infrastructure founded in 1885, and based in Brussels-Belgium, reaffirms its commitment to promoting Smart Port Technology at the forefront of maritime development.

With a focus on cutting-edge advances such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins and other emerging technologies, PIANC aims to catalyze the transformation of ports into smart and environmentally friendly ecosystems.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (08/05/24), the Congress, which raised the theme "Future Ready Water Transport - Unlocking Africa" ​​("Future Ready Waterborne Transport - Unlocking Africa") aims to address the efforts needed to create a sustainable maritime sector.

The congress included 295 paper presentations divided into dozens of theme groups, including: Inland Navigation and Waterways, Ports and Planning Development, Ports Structure, Port Dredging and Reclamation, Environment and Climate Change, Ports-Green Energy and Related issues.

Lukijanto stated that the sustainability issue raised by PIANC is in line with Indonesia's commitment to sustainable development, apart from that, this is in line with Indonesia's commitment to sustainable infrastructure and transportation development.

"This is very good as a lesson in organizing the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF), which will be held on 4-6 September 2024 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC)," said Luki.

Apart from that, the 2024 AGA resolution and the PIANC Congress Results also emphasize the importance of working with nature. "This material is one of the things that will be discussed at the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), in Bali, 18-25 May 2024," added Suraji//VOI

Press conference ahead of the 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries which was held in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/5/2024) ; (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) will hold a Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) in the Library Sector in 2024.

National Library Main Secretary Joko Santoso said that the National Coordination Meeting would discuss three major programs which will be the main focus of National Library in 2024.

These programs are strengthening reading and literacy culture, mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts as well as standardization and training of library staff aimed at mapping libraries according to national library standards ( SNPs).

"This is our effort to continue to accelerate various activities related to the latest program changes in the era of disruption of demographic change," he said in a press conference ahead of the 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries which was held in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

He said the millennial generation and generation Z were the focus of National Library, especially in strengthening reading culture.

Many things have been done, he continued, one of which is accelerating the use of devices for the digital library platform, namely iPusnas.

"Now there are millions of digital books that can be accessed, one of which is iPusnas. "iPusnas has also been replicated in 256 digital libraries in the regions," he said.

Apart from that, efforts are being made to place digital reading corners in public areas, not in libraries. National Library also provides assistance with mobile library cars (MPK) which serve remote areas of Indonesia, especially villages that have access far from the library.

“Mobile libraries stop at certain points, such as schools and busy centers. "This is our effort to strengthen literacy culture," he continued.

The 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries carries the theme "Rearranging Concepts and Practices of Literacy Development".

The 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries will be held in a hybrid manner on 14-15 May 2024. Plt. The Director of the National Library is scheduled to officially open the National Library and explain the policy direction of the National Library.

"This year's National Coordination Meeting is different from previous years, this year it will emphasize user experience, where regional speakers will share good practices in increasing literacy in society," he explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Human Development, Society and Culture, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Amich Alhumami, explained that literacy was placed as one of the priority programs because it is an indicator of the quality of Indonesian people.

"Literacy skills are considered important in increasing access to knowledge and community productivity," he explained.

Through the National Coordination Meeting, he explained, National Library and regional libraries will be strengthened. He added, literacy is the scope of the 2020-2024 RPJMN. In the future, literacy will be continued in the 2025-2029 RPJMN.

"Literacy remains an important part of development to support human development and cultural development," he said.

The National Coordination Meeting was filled with policy sessions featuring resource persons from the Ministry of Villages PDTT and the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.

Meanwhile, the panel session will be filled with resource persons from regional governments who implement good practices in developing the three main National Library programs, namely the Regent of Berau, the Regent of Kendal, and the Head of the East Java Province Library and Archives Service.

Apart from that, there will be parallel sessions featuring resource persons who are actively involved and can share good practices that can be imitated by local governments, institutions, organizations, literacy activists and the general public.

The offline National Coordination Meeting will be held at the Grand Mercure Hotel Jakarta Kemayoran and will be attended by 1,000 participants.

Offline participants consist of regional heads, heads of provincial and district/city library services, heads of library forums/publishers/recording entrepreneurs and parties who have collaborated with the National Library.

The public can take part in a series of activities online via the Zoom application with a capacity of 10,000 or via live streaming on the National Library's YouTube channel.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (08/05/24), the 2024 National Library Coordination Meeting is close to the National Library's 44th anniversary.

The National Library's anniversary is celebrated every May 17, which is also celebrated as National Book Day.

This year, the National Library carries the anniversary theme, namely "44 Years of Cultivating the Hope of Serving the Country to Make the Nation Smarter".

Head of the Human Resources (HR) and General Affairs Bureau, Janti Suksmarini, said that during May a series of events were held to support the sharpening of National Library's main issue programs for 2024.

"A total of 27 series of activities will be held from May 7-31," he said.

At the peak of the event, he continued, on May 17 2024, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia will launch the "Village Literacy Movement".

In this activity, 10 million quality reading materials will be launched to village libraries and 21 million books will be launched to schools.

On 13 May-22 May 2024, a number of interesting activities will be held including thematic exhibition of the National Library Anniversary from Time to Time, thematic exhibition of Bung Karno, thematic exhibition of Bung Hatta, Historical Literacy Week, Archipelago Literacy (Culture) Festival, Indonesian Education History Exhibition , book launch and book review, as well as workshops//VOI

VOInews, Jakarta: Eid Jalaa' (Evaluation Day), which falls every 17 April, is a big day for Syrians that symbolises glory and freedom. This was stated by Syrian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulmonem Annan in a special interview aired on 2 May 2024 on the Voice of Indonesia terrestrial radio channel. As is known, Eid Jalaa' marks the expulsion of the French army from the land of independent Syria on 17 April 1946.

"Indeed, the day of evacuation or independence day is an important day in which various tribes, nations, and cultures around the world gather. And this day is a great day that for Syrians symbolises glory and freedom, because it is impossible for citizens or a nation to feel honour and freedom if they are denied their independence or are under occupation," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan said.

According to Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan, Eid Jalaa' is a moment for the people to celebrate Syria's glorious history of their collective struggle for independence. "Syrians on 17 April every year celebrate the greatness of their past history, despite the mosaic and diversity that distinguishes them, they are united, making sacrifices up to blood for the independence of their country from French colonialists," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan continued.

Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan, who began serving since February 2023 in Indonesia, also mentioned the Palestinian struggle and efforts to realise peace in the region. "It is impossible for peace to be realised in the world, including in the Middle East in particular without a comprehensive and just peace. When I say comprehensive, we mean that peace must include the core conflict in the Middle East, namely the Palestinian conflict. It is impossible for Arab countries to reach a lasting and durable peace agreement as long as the Palestinian people have not gained their independence, dignity and freedom," Ambassador Abdulmonem Annan concluded.