Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria organized the annual event of "Pasar Indonesia" (Indonesian Market) to promote Indonesian culinary arts to the local people, foreign diplomatic corps, businesspersons, and local media in South Africa.
"Despite being held on a smaller scale this year, we are holding Pasar Indonesia with a high level of enthusiasm to introduce Indonesian cuisine and the diversity of Indonesian products," Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa Salman Al Farisi noted on the sidelines of the "Pasar Indonesia" event in Pretoria, South Africa.
"With this event, we are optimistic that South Africans will love our country more, and this will open up various opportunities for future cooperation between the two parties," he affirmed.
"Pasar Indonesia" is an annual event organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria that is open to the public and invites diplomatic corps, business communities, and the local media.
This year, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria is adjusting the scale of activities by applying COVID-19 health protocols during the lockdown level 1 in South Africa.
The Indonesian Embassy in holding the event by strictly adhering to protocols, such as wearing masks, using hand sanitizers, and ensuring social distancing.
The Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Johannesburg, the Ladies Association (DWP) of the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria, and Indonesian diaspora in South Africa participated in Pasar Indonesia 2020.
The ITPC Johannesburg promotes Indonesian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), most of which have been in the South African market, while the DWP kiosk offers handicraft products, such as batik, and typical Indonesian specialties, comprising various fried foods to chicken satay.
The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria also facilitated six Indonesian diaspora in South Africa to sell and introduce a variety of Indonesian cuisines. During the event held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, visitors were spotted relishing various Indonesian delicacies, such as rendang, fried rice, fried noodles, chicken satay, gudeg, and fried chocolate banana.
The enthusiasm of South African communities was apparent from the visitor traffic at the event and the speed with which the food sold by tenants flew off the shelves.
On the sidelines of the activity, Ambassador Al Farisi also met with a delegation of businessmen from Mpumalanga Province that were keen to explore the potential for trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and South Africa.
The Pasar Indonesia’s success in drawing visitors from Pretoria, Johannesburg, and outside Gauteng Province demonstrates that Indonesia has etched a mark in the hearts of the people of South Africa, a solid proof of sound relations between the two countries.
Earlier, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria has held similar activities in 2018 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Pretoria and in 2019 at the Loftus Park shopping centre, with more tenants and performers.
For the event venue this year, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria has chosen the Hazel Food Market, a weekly market in Pretoria that is strategically located and equipped with adequate facilities.
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