On the picture His Excellency I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
By Roy Lie A Tjam
September has been an eventful month for the ASEAN countries in The Hague. On September 1st, Her Excellency Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa hosted a reception on the occasion of the 72nd Anniversary of the National Day of Vietnam.
On 14 September 2017, an ASEAN Business Forum was in session in cooperation with VNO-NVW-MKB Nederland as a part of ASEAN 50th Anniversary celebrations.
The opening remarks were by His Excellency Dato’s Ahmad Nazri Yusof, Ambassador of Malaysia and the chairman of the ASEAN Committee in The Hague, and Mr. Hans de Boer President of VN/ NCW followed with a speech of his own.
Other speakers included: H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh (Secretary-General of ASEAN (TBC)) and Mr. Maarten Camps (Secretary-General, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands). A session of nationalist pride of each member state followed focused on Trade and Business Opportunity in ASEAN countries.
For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157689217563946
The primary aim of this event was to promote ASEAN and the Netherlands trade relations, as well as to create better awareness among the Dutch business community of the potential ASEAN could offer in trade and investment- especially with the idea of cooperating with ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that had been announced two years ago.
The Story of Malaysia
Malaysia was represented by Ms. Vimala Murugan, Economic Department Embassy of Malaysia Brussels. Ms. Munugan emphasized the following points: ASEAN opportunities, Malaysia – Netherlands Trade and Investment performances, and Malaysia’s potential contributions to ASEAN. Each member country of the ASEAN Committee followed Malaysia’s example in the presentation for their respective states.
Malaysian fruits, food, and delicacies were a popular choice of the fair in Markthal, Rotterdam. There were cooking demonstrations at the residence of the Malaysian and Thai Embassy featuring Malaysia’s Dato chef Ismael, and chefs from Bangkok Bold Institute.
The Ambassador of the Philippines, His Excellency Mr. Jaime Victor Ledda and Mrs. Gina Ledda hosted a piano concert of Prof. Raul Sunico in The Hague on 28 September 2017
Pasar Raya Indonesia 2017
In a space of three days (15,16 and 17 Sept.) more than twenty thousand individuals visited the Pasar Raya Indonesia (PRI) 2017 held in De Broodfabriek, Rijswijk, the Netherlands, between 15 – 17 September 2017 as a part of the Indonesian Economic Diplomacy, encouraged by the President of Indonesia. PRI 2017 is the culmination of the 72nd anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
The event aimed to strengthen the alliance of the peoples of both nations. It also aimed to promote Indonesian culture; such as kuris, culinary and various Indonesian products as textiles and handicrafts.
Citizens came from all quarters of Europe, including Belgium, UK, Germany, and France. There were even some groups of Indonesian citizens from Malaysia, several members of the diplomatic corps in The Hague, such as the Ambassador of Bangladesh and Tanzania.
Pasar Raya Indonesia is this year supported by several artists such as Indonesian Idol finalist, Harry Mantong and Komunitas Hong of Bandung– he introduced various dance performances to PRI 2017. Dutch artist Justine Palmelay of “Superman is Dead”, the famous band in Indonesia, also took part the concert on the night of September 15, 2017, before the official opening ceremony on September 16, 2017. A total of more than 70 culinary stands and products supported this PRI 2017.
PRI 2017 was commenced by the Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Yohana Yambise; together in cooperation with the Mayor of Rijswijk, Mr. Michel Bezuijen and the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for the Netherlands, His Excellency Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja.
Mayor of Rijswijk, Michel Bezuijen, expressed his gratitude over the fact that PRI this year was being held for the first time in Rijswijk. It was a surprise for Bezuijen with the splendor of the event and the immense number of visitors by exclaiming, “This is an opportunity for the people of Rijswijk to get to know Indonesia”.
According to Ambassador Puja, as the head of the organizer of Pasar Raya Indonesia 2017, this year’s celebration was held in a much larger indoor space as opposed to in previous years, PRI (with the old name of Pasar Rakyat Indonesia) at Sekolah Indonesia in Wassenaar in the outdoors. Puja noted, “compared to the past years, the number of visitors is getting bigger, and this year’s venue is expected to reach visitors up to 20 thousand a 3 day-program”. A great interest from visitors may also increase Indonesia’s diaspora business in the Netherlands that accumulate the demand for Indonesian products in the Dutch market.
