On the picture H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
On 11 May 2017, H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia in the Netherlands launched an Indonesia made Guitar in the Netherlands. The launching took place at the prestigious edifice of the Embassy of Indonesia in The Hague.
The guitars are jointly produced by the Dutch company Homestead Neheem International and PT. Genta Trikarya in Bandung, the city of music.
Robin van de Poll from Homestead told the audience about the collaboration which started in 2012. He had read about the high-quality guitars produced in Bandung in a magazine for guitar enthusiasts so he decided to visit the company.
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At first, he was not thinking about a business venture, however afterward the team decided to collaborate in the production of a high-quality brand guitar for the European market.
Ambassador Puja in his remarks commended the collaboration between Homestead and PT Genta Trikarya. It’s a fine business example involving businesses from the two countries. He added that the high-quality guitars might further inform the Dutch public about one of Indonesia’s high-end finished products, such as guitars from Bandung. “I am confident that this collaboration will also enhance people-to-people relations through musical instruments as I believe that music is a universal language”, said Ambassador Puja.
Talking about music being a universal language, reference was made to the phenomena known in the Netherlands as Indo Rock. Youngsters from the so-called Indo community developed a peculiar style of music(Indo rock) Some exponents of the indo rock epoch(1960s – 1990) were: Tielman Brothers along with their sister Jane, The Blue Diamonds and several others. De-facto, Indonesian musical influence in the Netherlands stretched over many decades.
A representative for the Indonesian company, PT. Genta Trikarya, Mr. Awan Nasution, told the audience through video call, that the team in Bandung is proud of the fact that they have produced guitars for the musicians in the Netherlands. Homestead Guitars products are produced in Bandung based on fine Indonesian timbers such Javanese Rosewood, Javanese Mahogany dan Makassar Ebony. The products will be marketed not only in the Netherlands, but also to wider European Union market.
The climax of the event was when Ambassador Puja presented the first guitar to the legendary Dutch guitarist, George Kooymans. Mr. Kooijmans has been a member of the band, Golden Earring, renowned in the 1960s and 70s Furthermore, guitars were presented to other well known.
Dutch musicians: Mr. Henny Vriente, known from the Band Doe Maar in the 1980s and also to musician Mr. Boudewijn de Groot, A concise number of media representatives witnessed the event.
The recipients of the guitars(trio) created a new band called “Vreemde Kostgangers” They tried out the guitars and played some of their songs. “Mooi” they extolled. The guitars had been specially build to meet the demands of the trio
Homestead Neheem International, is ready to serve the Dutch- and European market with a piece of sterling Indonesian artistry.
