Paet brought along with him an Estonian business delegation, as talks on expanding trade and investment partnerships between Indonesia and Estonia were high on the agenda of his four-day visit. This is the first official visit made by an Estonian top envoy to Indonesia since the countries opened mutual diplomatic relations in 1993.

Paet himself called it a “historical visit”. Marty said the Estonian minister’s visit was a follow-up to their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September last year, during which they declared a commitment to enhancing their countries’ bilateral relations. Paet has brought Estonian business representatives from the sectors of logistics, infrastructure, maritime security, border management and healthcare, among others.

He said he had also been scheduled to meet with Indonesian Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih. “So far there is still a lot of untapped potential in relations between Indonesia and Estonia,” Paet said in a joint press conference with Marty.

Marty said they also discussed in detail pending agreements on protection from double taxation, investment, economy and free visa arrangements for diplomatic passport holders. Paet said he was looking forward to signing those agreements to protect Estonian businesses in Indonesia.

Two-way trade between Indonesia and Estonia has been showing a positive trend in the past couple of years, with the total trade value for the January-October 2011 period standing at US$29.8 million, a 54.7 percent increase from $19.27 million in the same period of 2010. Indonesia enjoyed a surplus of $27.33 million in the January-October 2011 period, with its main export commodities including animal and plant fats, paper and paperboard, and wood and wooden products.

“We can still enhance the figures. There are plenty of places to enhance our cooperation,” Marty said. The two ministers also discussed cooperation in the field of education.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement that the two countries were exploring partnerships between Indonesian and Estonian higher education institutions.

Paet specifically invited Indonesian cyber experts to further learn of cyber security and cyber defense in Estonia, in which he said the country was experienced. He added Indonesia and Bali were becoming popular among Estonians as tourist destinations.

Paet arrived in Jakarta on Monday and was scheduled to leave Indonesia on Thursday. He is joined by Finnish European Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Stubb and a Finnish business delegation in the visit.

News Source: The Jakarta Post

Pada tahun-tahun 1950an sebelum masa Konfrontasi Indonesia- Malaysia, hubungan rakyat di kedua negeri serumpun ini sangat erat; banyak orang Indonesia menikmati lagu-lagu dari Malaysia misalnya yang di dendangkan Cek Ramli almarhum. Film hitam putih dari Malaysia juga diminiati di Indonesia. Sebaliknya juga banyak orang Malaysia juga mengagumi lagu dan film dari Indonesia, termasuk karya para pujangga masa lalu. Film hitam putih dari kedua negeri ini hampir tidak ada bedanya karena bahasa Melayu yang di percakapkan di film itu sama dengan bahasa Indonesia.

Masa Konfrontasi tahun 1960an memang sempat memisahkan rakyat kedua negara, namun bisa dipulihkan lagi setelah Indonesia mengalami coup d’état Partai Komunis Indonesia.

Dewasa ini diakui dari segi informasi memang sudah tidak ada sekatan lagi, orang-orang Malaysia bisa melihat TV-TV Indonesia, lagu-lagu Indonesia baik yang popular maupun dangdut juga digemari di Malaysia. Sampai-sampai ada protes dari sebagian orang Malaysia sendiri di KL terhadap stasiun-stasiun radio yang mendedangkan terus menerus lagu-lagu Indonesia yang menjadikan para pendengar radio itu seperti berada di Jakarta.

Akan tetapi bagi sebagian orang Indonesia ada persepsi yang beranggapan bahwa tetangga kita Malaysia terlalu “Ke – Inggris-Ingrisan” (atau memiliki British’ mindset), lebih tahu London, atau Piccadilly Circus, atau English Garden, atau Fish and Chip. Tentu hal itu tidak benar. Dulu Dr. Mahathir mengeluarkan policy “Look East Policy” yang mengharapkan rakyat Malaysia lebih melihat timur seperti Jepang dan Korea dari pada selalu melihat barat (dalam hal ini Inggris). Orang Indonesia tidak lagi merasa melihat Malaysia seperti jamannya Cek Ramli dulu. Tentangga serumpun ini seperti tetangga lain; yang dibacanya dari media adalah soal Tenaga Kerja Indonesia yang disiksa majikan, atau diminta membayar uang pelicin bagi polisi yang menangkapnya. Atau soal teroris dari Malaysia yang mencari tempat operasi di Indonesia.

Yang perlu dipahami bahwa Indonesia ini dalam sejarahnya adalah negara yang mengalami penjajahan asing ratusan tahun (di jajah Belanda 350 tahun, Inggris 5 tahun, Portugis 5 tahun dan Jepang 3,5 tahun). Perasaan nasionalisme sangat tinggi, setiap kali mendengar kata “Asing” maka akan menjadi perdebatan yang serius. Misalnya ekonomi Indonesia di kuasai Asing, budaya Indonesia ter-kontaminasi Asing, demonstrasi yang dibiayai Asing dsb. Karena itu ketika ada berita soal lagu rasa sayang2e di anggap milik Malaysia, maka itu menjadi berita besar.

Bagi sebagian orang Malaysia, Indonesia dianggap sebagai sebagai negara yang demokrasinya belebihan, berita tentang perkelahian antar desa, antar etnis dan agama. Tenaga Kerja yang berkerja di Malaysia yang selalu buat masalah kriminal. Indonesia seakan bukan tetangga serumpun lagi – tapi tentangga Asing yang terlalu sensitive dalam banyak hal.

Tidak banyak yang tahu kalau banyak Tenaga Kerja Indonesia yang ikut menyumbangkan tenaganya membangun Kuala Lumpur, membangun Petronas Twin Tower, tidak banyak yang tahu bahwa banyak pengusaha Indonesia yang berbisnis di Malaysia, sedikit yang tahu kalau banyak dosen Indonesia yang mengajar di berbagai perguruan tinggi di Malaysia, atau olahragawan Indonesia yang melatih di Malaysia dsb.

Sebaliknya, tidak banyak yang tahu juga di Indonesia kalau beberapa Bank di Indonesia di beli Bank Malaysia, kebun-kebun Kelapa Sawit di Sumatra dan Kalimantan banyak yang dikelola pengusaha Malaysia, para pengusaha Malaysia banyak membeli produk –produk di Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Medan dan kota-kota lainnya.

Nampaknya, masing-masing pihak harus mengerti dan memahami sensitivitas dan karakter kedua negara serumpun ini. Harus ada upaya yang lebih baik untuk mendekatkan kedua masyarakatnya. Tidak boleh ada yang merasa lebih tinggi dari yang lain. Semua pihak juga harus memahami bahwa “We actually have the same DNA” tapi “We have different historical background”.

Kalau tidak dipahami hal itu, maka walaupun Malaysia itu negara serumpun terdekat dengan Indonesia, tapi sepertinya jauh…!

Alumni University of London dan Universitas Airlangga Surabaya, sekarang dosen di STIE PERBANAS Surabaya.

Membaca buku kumpulan tulisan Liew Chin Tong anggota parlemen muda Penang Malaysia yang berjudul: “Speaking for the REFORMASI GENERATION” saya ingat kondisi Indonesia semasa Orde Baru dulu. Pak Chin Tong – begitu saya menyebutnya menulis tentang hiruk pikuk politik di negeri Jiran dengan segala dinamikanya persis yang pernah kita alami di Indonesia pada masa lalu. Misalnya dia menulisL “we were a generation growing up without knowing any other Prime Minister except Dr Mahathir “. Di negeri kita dulu anak-anak muda generasi tahun 66 sampai 90 an – selama 36 tahun mengalami seperti yang dialami politisi muda Malaysia ini yakni tumbuh sebagai generasi yang hanya tahu presidennya cuma satu yaitu Suharto-selain itu tidak ada.

Liew Chin Tong

Pak Chin Tong juga menulis “In the kampung, the headman is also UMNO branch chairman. His wife is typically the branch wanita chief and occasionally, his son the youth chief…In typical Kampung, the village head cum UMNO branch chairman would know everyone by name; his wife may even know the names of the villagers’ cats”. Saya membacanya kalimat –kalimat itu sambil tertawa karena ingat persis jaman Orde Baru dulu dimana semua kepala desa, bupati walikota dan gubernur berasal dari satu partai yang berkuasa, seperti juga yang ditulis Pak Tong, disini juga kepala desa adalah ketua partai berkuasa, istrinya ketua perkumpulan wanita partai itu dan anaknya ketua organisasi pemuda partai itu. Kalau Pak Tong menulis – bahwa kepala kampung itu mengetahui nama-nama orang dibawah kekuasaannya bahkan istrinya bisa tahu nama-nama kucing penduduk, maka di Indonesia dulu kita ingat bahwa pohon-pohon di alun-alun dan diseluruh kota pun di cat dengan warna bendera partai politik yang berkuasa.

Syukur Alhamduilllah, kita di Indonesia sudah meninggalkan kondisi seperti itu sementara teman-teman kita di negeri jiran masih mengalaminya. Dinamika politik di negeri itu sangat mirip dengan yang terjadi di Indonesia dimana lawan-lawan politiknya di singkirkan dan dipenjara seperti yang dialami Datuk Anwar Ibrahim. Kita bersyukur bahwa se-jahat2nya polisi kita dalam era keterbukaan ini tidak pernah memukul babak belur seorang pimpinan nomor dua di negeri yang dipenjara. Sementara Datuk Anwar Ibrahim beberapa tahun yang lalu pernah di pukuli bertubi-tubi oleh kepala polisi sampai kedua matanya merah biru. Kita bersyukur bahwa era diktatorisme di negeri ini sudah berlalu dan kita bisa bernafas lega untuk menatap Indonesia yang lebih maju kedepannya.

Saya sendiri bertemu dengan Pak Chin Tong bersama penulis Malyasia terkenal Karim Raslan (seorang pecinta Indonesia) bulan 20 Desember 2011 yang lalu. Saya dan Akhyar Hananto (penggagas goodnewsfromindonesia ini) berdiskusi dengan dia tentang Pesantren, tentang NU dan Muhammadiyah, tentang politik Indonesia, tentang media dan ekonomi Indonesia dan Jawa Timur. Saya kenalkan dia dengan kolega saya Pak Aribowo Dekan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Airlangga yang juga pengamat politik. Saya perhatikan Pak Chin Tong ini adalah anggota DPRD Penang yang sangat aktif dan mau belajar banyak dari pengalaman Indonesia. Dia sangat menyimak betul penjelasan Pak Aribowo tentang voting behavior di Indonesia, tentang swing voters, tentang pilkada, tentang partai politik dsb.

Pak Chin Tong ini adalah anggota parlemen dari DAP – Democratic Action Party. Partainya itu berkoalisi dengan PAS – partai Islam di Malaysia dan PKR – Partai Keadilan Rakyat yang didirikan Datuk Anwar Ibrahim. Ketiga partai ini berupaya memenangkan Pemilu raya di Malaysia dengan menggeser UMNO partai yang berkuasa saat ini. Pak Chin Tong ini sangat mengagumi Datuk Anwar Ibrahim dengan sering mendengarkan pidato politiknya dimana-mana. Ketiga partai koalisi ini bermaksud mengusung Datuk Anwar Ibrahim menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Dan Pak Chin Tong mengakui bahwa dia banyak belajar dari Reformasi yang terjadi di Indonesia yang sampai menumbangkan Suharto.

Anwar Ibrahim

Dalam wawancaranya dengan wartawan Jawa Pos setelah di bebaskan dari tuduhan kasus sodomi, Datuk Anwar Ibrahim berjanji bahwa kalau dia menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia dia akan menampilkan Malaysia yang tidak arogan terhadap Indonesia sebagai negeri jiran yang terdekat. Bagi kita siapapun yang akan memimpin Malaysia, maka sikap arogan tidak boleh dikedepankan terhadap negara yang serumpun ini. Kalau tidak, meskipun sama-sama memiliki akar budaya dan bahasa yang sama, akan tetap menjadi tetangga yang asing.

Semoga, Pak Chin Tong kawan baru saya ini mendapat pelajaran yang menarik dari negeri kita dengan mengambil mana-mana yang baik untuk demokrasi yang akan terjadi di Malaysia.

Penulis adalah alumni of University of London dan Universitas Airlangga Surabaya, sekarang dosen di STIE PERBANAS Surabaya.

Foto dari website Liew Chin Tong dan Anwar Ibrahim.

“The office, located in the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) Building, Central Jakarta, will be inaugurated concurrently with the opening ceremony of the WHFC annual meeting,” the Director of MUI Food and Drug Analysis Agency (LPPOM) Lukmanul Hakim said in a release received here, Thursday.

Indonesia as a world’s halal food center is supported by some international halal certification agencies such as those in United States, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore.Last year, Coordinating Minister of Economy Hatta Rajasa has signed the declaration that established Jakarta as the head office of the World’s Halal Food Council. and supports from the international keeps coming to Indonesia.

Lukman said the annual meeting of WHFC in Jakarta would be a great and strategic momentum for Indonesia as a country which had the largest number of halal products consumers.With a great number of Muslim consumers and the various industries of food, beverages, medicines, and cosmetics, Indonesia should be a leader in the world’s halal products competition,” Lukman said.

The Annual General Meeting of WHFC will be held in Jakarta on January 16-18 and will be opened by Indonesian Vice President Boediono. The meeting will be attended by Ambassadors and commercial attaches from other countries, observers, directors of halal product industries, and at least 25 world’s halal certification agencies.

The agenda of the meeting would be a discussion on the work program, standardization, socialization, and education of halal products all around the world. WHFC was established in 1999 in Indonesia and Prof. Aisjah Girindra was elected as its president.

On June 23 2011, members of WHFC agreed to reactivate the WHFC and elected Lukmanul Hakim as its president as well as Jakarta as its headquarters.

News Source: Kompas

Retno Marsudi said after her swearing in on Wednesday that she would use the best of local cuisine to enhance the relationship between the two countries, antaranews.com reported.

Culinary diplomacy would also improve the Indonesian economy, Retno added.

Several other Indonesian embassies have also held culinary festivals to promote traditional dishes.

In Dubai, for example, a cooking demonstration in Grand Millennium Hotel featured gado-gado, karedok and urap as appetizers with a main course of tongseng kambing (lamb curry in soy sauce), ikan bumbu pesmol (fried fish in yellow sauce), fried rice and fried noodles.

Martabak asin egg pancakes, bubur sumsum (coconut rice pudding with palm sugar syrup) and es cendol (drink made from rice flour served with coconut milk, palm sugar and ice cubes) were served as desert.

Further, the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow cooperated with the Association of Russian Gastronomic Observers to hold a garden party where dabu-dabu from North Sulawesi was served.

The order is commonly awarded to Norwegian citizens living abroad, Norwegian diplomats and foreign civil servants in Norway, among others, for “outstanding service in the interests of Norway”, and it is the first time it will be awarded to an Indonesian diplomat.

Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Eivind Homme is scheduled to grant the order in a ceremony at his residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Thursday evening, the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post.
Retno served as the Indonesian ambassador to Norway between 2005 and 2009, and had earlier worked for Indonesian embassies in Australia and the Netherlands.

Lawmakers have approved her appointment as the new Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands. The assignment is pending her inauguration by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The Robotic Organizing Committee Indonesia (ROCI) founder and chairman Santoso Gondowidjojo said that Indonesia would exhibit more than 200 robots at the event.

“Although this is the first time that Indonesia will host the Olympiad, robots created by young Indonesians have already been recognized at global robot competitions in the past few years,” Santoso said on Wednesday as quoted by tempo.com.

No hassle: A group of vocational school students show their creation Floor Cleaning Machines 2K11, a robot that could automatically sweep floors in this photo file taken on Sept. 24, 2011. Indonesia will host the 13th International Robot Olympiad (IRO) at Tarumanegara University in Jakarta from Thursday to Sunday. (Antara/Eric Ireng)

He said that Indonesia had managed to bring home a gold medal in the junior creative robot category as well as one bronze medal, one special award and seven technical awards at last year’s IRO in Australia.

Themed as “robots for helping people in natural disasters,” the Olympiad will have 14 categories, such as non-programmed line tracers, non-programmed racing, prison break robots and transporters.

The event spokeswoman, Lolita Zusye, said that there would be two new categories, energy saving robots in relation to the impact of greenhouse gases and environmental preservation, and robots as media promotions of Indonesian culture in the international arena.

Apart from the robot competition, there will also be an exhibition showcasing robotic technology innovations as well as the International Symposium on Robot Education for technology and design observers.

Delegates to the Bali Democracy Forum are a motley crew: the meeting held recently brought together representatives from over 80 countries and hundreds of observers. The conference’s title ‘Enhancing Democratic Participation in a Changing World: Responding to Democratic Voices’ may not be catchy and some speeches were tedious. But the message from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains unequivocal: Asian countries must match their economic success with democracy and political reform.

The focus this year was inevitably on the Arab Spring. The Indonesian president warned that based on his country’s experience, there were no quick fixes. “It is safe to assume that in the early years, things will be more difficult before it gets better … Democratic success has to be built, earned and improvised every step of the way. Indeed, elections are only one of
the tools of democracy and building a mature democracy takes a lot more than holding elections.”

Launched in 2008 to encourage discussion and exchange of views on democracy among Asian countries, annual meetings of the Bali Democracy Forum have become a potent exercise in Indonesian public diplomacy.

The Forum has grown in credibility and prestige over the years, spotlighting Indonesia’s democratic record since the fall of president Suharto in 1998, and the country’s increasingly vocal and visible aspirations to become Asia’s prime normative power and champion of political reform and democracy.

The message from Jakarta is strong and clear: Indonesia matters — in both Southeast Asian and on the global stage. The country’s new breed of gutsy and self-confident politicians and diplomats are breaking with the cautious approach of past administrations by working hard to give Indonesia a stronger regional and international voice.

Indonesia’s transformation from dictatorship to a modern and robust democracy in the past decade is no modest achievement — and through the annual meetings in Bali, Indonesia wants to spread the gospel of democracy.

Indonesia’s foreign policy ambitions are not new. The country has long been active on the regional and international foreign and security policy stage. However, President Yudhoyono, now serving his second and final term in office, has given a new boost to the reputation of Southeast Asia’s largest economy and most populous nation, successfully portraying it as one of Asia’s most exciting countries with constructive contributions to make. Helped by men like former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda, Indonesian diplomacy is now in full gear, its officials no longer content to watch from the sidelines as regional and world leaders step up engagement with China and India.

Mr Wirajuda, a gentle and affable man, tells me in Bali that Indonesia wants to share its experience with Arab countries in transition. “We can learn from each other’s mistakes,” he says. The focus has to be on social justice, on fighting corruption on not allowing a monopoly of power. “Governments have to be sensitive to the aspirations of the people,” he underlines.

Significantly, Turkey was also present at the Bali meeting.

Still, in the last few years, Indonesia has taken its place in the G20, become a force to be reckoned with in Asean and adopted a moderating role within the OIC. Jakarta’s efforts at fighting terrorism and radicalisation are watched carefully by its neighbours as well as the United States and the European Union.

Long-term prospects are bright. Indonesia’s economic growth rates — expected to remain around the six per cent mark in the near future — continue to impress. Demographics are excellent; 44 per cent of its population is under 24, meaning a growing workforce in years to come. Basic literacy rates are at 90 per cent (although education still needs a lot of investment). The country is resource-rich. It’s a major exporter of soft commodities such as palm oil, cocoa and coffee, as well as coal.

But it’s not just a geared play on commodities. The economy is mostly driven by domestic demand, with consumption accounting for around 60 per cent of GDP. Indonesia is also strategically located: half of world trade passes by its northern maritime border, giving the country a strategic role in ensuring safe and secure international navigation.

Small wonder then that US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard are among leaders who have recently trod the red carpet in Jakarta. The US and Australia are seeking to sign ambitious cooperation pacts aimed at enhancing ties with Indonesia, clearly seeing the country as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the region. As the driving force behind many Asian regional integration initiatives, Indonesia is often held up as an example to be followed by neighbouring Myanmar, a role that Jakarta does not shun.

To fulfil its regional and global ambitions, however, Indonesia will have to put its domestic house in order. Indonesians tell me the country remains riddled by corruption and religious extremism is still a problem. Few doubt that Indonesia needs to make faster progress in addressing issues like freedom of expression, military reform, police brutality (especially in Papua), treatment in prisons and of minorities.

“We remain vigilant as Indonesia is not totally free from the prospect of new communal conflicts flaring up,” the Indonesian president told delegates at the Bali Forum, adding: “The more we guarantee human rights for our citizens, the more durable our democracy will become.” It is a lesson for many countries, not just those living through the so-called Arab Spring.

by Shada Islam

The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Brussels.

Aerowisata, a subsidiary company of Garuda Indonesia, gained recognition for its commitment to enhance aspects in waste management, water treatment, conservation, efficient electricity usage, and better overall environmental development.
The certificate was presented by President Director of TUV Rheinland Indonesia, Muhammad Asana at Hanoman Garden, Sanur Beach Hotel, Bali on Tuesday, 15 November 2011, that was also attended by executive Vice President of Aerowisata Hotels & Resorts, Anton Pratono.

In his speech, Anton stated that the certification is an acknowledgement for Aerowisata hotels reducing negative impacts and preserving the environment, which are part of the Green program conducted by Garuda Indonesia. Furthermore, this achievement is hoped to attract more international tourists, especially from Europe, since Europeans are very concerned with preserving the earth.

TUV Rheinland is a global provider of technical, safety and certification services with as guiding principle the achieving of sustained development of safety and quality in order to meet the challenges arising from the interaction between man, technology and the environment.

“We are proud to announce that Aerowisata Hotels & resorts is the first hotel groups that received the ‘Eco Hotel’ certification from TUV Rheinland”, said Muhaman Asana, President Director of TUV Rheinlad Indonesia”. The Eco Hotel certification is valid for three years, and every three months an evaluation will be conducted” said Asana. If the standard is not met, then the certification will be withdrawn.

Nowadays, an eco-friendly hotel has become the priority for international tourists, especially from Europe. Thus, the certification becomes an important assurance of the ‘eco-friendliness’ of a hotel or accommodation.

“Aerowisata Hotels & Resorts are continuously conducting every effort to implement the environmental commitment through a series of training for the staff and encouraging our guests to support the ‘Eco Hotel’. As a result we have received this certification, which will benefit us in the promotion of our hotels, especially to visitors from Europe” said Anton.

General Manager of Sanur Beach Hotel, Francis Dehnhardt, expressed his gratitude to all the staff and employees for the achievement in gaining the ‘Eco Hotel’ certification. The process in gaining recognition has been on-going since the hotel was first established about 37 years ago. “Even though it took a big investment, the certification has helped us a lot in reducing operational costs and also impacted in a significant increase in occupation” Denhardt stated.

Along with the Sanur Beach Hotel, there are 5 other Aerowisata Hotels that also received the Eco Hotel Certification.These are: the Senggigi Beach Hotel in Lombok, the Grand Preanger Hotel in Bandung, the Labersa Grand Hotel & Convention Center in Pekanbaru, and the Aerotel Biak in Papua.

The award is granted to research that makes major contributions to science and technology.

The students are Kadarusman, who is currently studying at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, and Hananto Prakoso, who is studying at Paris Est-Creteil University in Paris.

“Their research is of a high quality and is innovative, offering clear solutions to Indonesia’s current biodiversity, transportation and economic problems,” AFIDES president Helen Schutzenberger said Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Kadarusman’s research is focussed on the Rainbow fish species that inhabits the Papua bird’s head area, while Hananto presented his analysis of the relationship between the labor market and the need to build better infrastructure.

Kecintaannya yang tulus pada Indonesia itulah yang menggugah batin saya. Kita tentu sering mengetahui banyak orang barat yang begitu dalam mempelajari Indonesia, namun saya ragu apakah mereka kemudian mencintai Indonesia dengan tulus.

Karim Raslan adalah seorang penulis terkemuka dan konsultan yang berbasis di Indonesia dan Malaysia. Beliau adalah satu dari sedikit ahli di bidang social, ekonomi, dan politik sekaligus, untuk regional Asia Tenggara. Beliau adalah pembicara di berbagai seminar tentang ASEAN (dan Asia) dan mempunyai kantor di Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, dan Bangkok. Keahlian dan kapasitasnya yang memadai untuk urusan regional tersebut membawanya menjadi tamu di berbagai media cetak dan eletronik di Indonesia.

Di samping itu, Karim Raslan adalah seorang Indonesianist sejati dengan pengetahuan tentang sejarah, tokoh, social, ekonomi, politik, diplomasi Indonesia yang sangat mumpuni. Kebanyakan Indonesianist berasal dari Amerika Serikat, Australia dan Belanda. Namun Karim Raslan seorang keturunan Melayu Inggris dari Malaysia sebenarnya adalah seorang Indonesianist dari negeri yang terdekat dengan Indonesia. Pengetahuan Karim Raslan mengenai Indonesia barangkali lebih “baik” dibanding dengan para Indonesianist dari negeri barat, karena factor kedekatan geografis dan keturunan Melayunya yang membuat dia memiliki ke Indonesiaannya lebih dari para Indonesianist barat. Jangan-jangan, pengetahuannya tentang Indonesia..melebihi kebanyakan orang Indonesia sendiri, Saking cintanya terhadap Indonesia, Karim secara rutin berkunjung ke pulau-pulau di nusantara ini dan malahan memiliki rumah di Jakarta dan Bali. Tulisan-tulisan Karim banyak berisi kekaguman dia tentang diaspora persoalan-persoalan di Indonesia. Karim juga secara rutin menulis artikel di berbagai harian nasional dan majalah terkemuka di Indonesia.

Salah satu bukunya mengenai Indonesia berjudul “Ceritalah : Indonesia” yang berisi kumpulan tulisan-tulisannya tentang Indonesia sejak 10 tahun terakhir. Dari tulisan2-nya, kita bisa diselami betapa murninya kecintaan Karim Raslan akan Indonesia, dan betapa pengetahuannya tentang Indonesia digalinya berdasarkan kecintaannya tersebut. Salah satu bukti nyata kecintaannya pada Indonesia adalah, dia pernah menyelenggarakan seminar interaktif di London, dan dia sebagai pembicaranya, yang bertema “Indonesia in the Asian Century:
Opportunities and Challenges”. Sesuatu yang mungkin tidak akan dilakukan oleh siapapun orang Indonesia dengan perencanaan sendiri.

Beliau mempunyai hubungan dekat dengan para tokoh-tokoh terkemuka di Asia Tenggara seperti mantan PM Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva, Presiden Filipina Ninoy Aquino, para menteri, bupati, dan gubernur di Indonesia, dan tentu saja para pejabat tinggi di Malaysia dan Singapura. Pengetahuannya yang luas, pembawaannya yang santun serta kedekatannya dengan para jurnalis dan reporter media, menjadikannya leluasa untuk bergerak di ranah manapun di Indonesia. Ketika tensi hubungan Indonesia-Malaysia memanas, Karim Raslan-lah yang selalu dicari media di Indonesia sebagai “satu-satunya” orang Malaysia yang “tidak memihak”.

Saat ini, Indonesia adalah negara yang sedang mengalami “growing pain” yang cukup menyakitkan, sudah terjadi cukup lama, dan karena “menahan sakit” itu, ada satu hal penting yang terabaikan, yakni bagaimana tokoh-tokoh negeri ini engage dengan serius para tokoh-tokoh Asia Tenggara. Indonesia (dan negara-negara lain di ASEAN) sangat beruntung mempunyai Karim Raslan, yang mendedikasikan banyak waktunya untuk menjadikan desa besar bernama Asia Tenggara, kawasan yang maju secara ekonomi, bangga pada pencapaian2-nya, dan mengerti potensi-potensi yang belum tergali.

Asia Tenggara perlu 1000 orang lagi seperti Karim Raslan.

Jakarta – Kunjungan Presiden Republik Federal Jerman, Christian Wulff ke Indonesia Kamis lalu bukan hanya sekedar kunjungan diplomatik semata, tapi Jerman datang sambil meminta beberapa bantuan terhadap Indonesia. Keadaan ekonomi Indonesia yang bisa dibilang stabil dan berhasil selamat dari krisis ekonomi global dinilai bisa membantu Uni Eropa untuk mencegah lebih luasnya efek dari krisis yang sedang dihadapi Eropa. Indonesia dinilai Wulff menjadi contoh yang baik karena kondisi ekonominya yang terkonsolidasi.

Selain itu Wulff juga menyatakan terkesan dengan pluralisme dan perkembangan Islam moderat di Indoensia. Wulff juga mengusulkan untuk membentuk forum khusus yang beranggotakan tokoh-tokoh masyarakat dua negara untuk saling memberi masukan mengenai Islam, terutama sejak jumalh pemeluk Islam di Jerman yang terus bertambah.

Sebelumnya Wulff juga menyatakan keinginan Jerman untuk berinvestasi dalam bidang energi terbarukan, “Indonesia merupakan paru-paru dunia, kami berminat agar Indonesia bisa menjalakan pengelolaan huta dan ekonomi yang menguntungkan” ujar Wulff. Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono juga menyatakan ingin bekerjasama dalam bidang pendidikan, industri pertahanan, kesehatan, energi tebarukan dan pengelolaan lingkungan.

Wulff juga menyatakan kekagumannya sekali lagi atas kepemimpinan Indonesia di ASEAN secara langsung saat menyampaikan kuliah umum di Auditorium Terapung Perpustakaan UI Depok, Kamis, 1 Desember 2011. Menurutnya Indonesia mampu menjadikan ASEAN sebagai solusi perekonomian bagi negara anggota dan memecahkan konflik Myanmar.

Wulff juga menilai kesuksesan Indonesia saat menggelar KTT ASEAN di Bali Oktober lalu, Indonesia dinilai berhasil mengarahkan negara anggota untuk memahai permasalah dunia dan KTT itu menghasilkan banyak kesepakatan untuk persiapan pasar ASEAN 2015 dan Presiden termuda Jerman itu menyatakan kesiapannya dalam membantu Indonesia di pasar bebas. Ia juga mengaku menyuaki gaya pengambilan keputusan Indonesia yang berdasarkan musyawarah dan mufakat dalam mencapai kesepakatan.

News Source: Tempo, Kompas, Detik

Re-written for Good News From Indonesia by M. Q Rusydan

“Pak, kenapa bangsa barat dikatakan menemukan benua Australia? Apakah benua itu pernah hilang?” Pertanyaan itu dilontarkan seorang anak kecil berumur 9 tahun, ketika saya mengajar di sebuah pesantren di Yogyakarta. Saya tidak tau kenapa negara-negara barat lebih suka menggunakan kata “discover”, dan bukan “arrived” kalau mereka bertualang. Dan kenapa hanya bangsa barat yang “berhak menemukan” , padahal bangsa China dan Indonesia pada masa lampau telah menjadi penjelajah-penjalajah samudera, jauh sebelum bangsa barat mengenal kompas.

Gambar perahu Bugis karya bangsa Aborigin (sumber www.dfat.gov.au)

Sejarah mencatat bahwa Suku Bugis sudah lama berinteraksi dengan kaum Aborigin Australia 1000 tahun sebelum Willem Jansz/Janszoon, pelaut Belanda, “menemukan” Australia pada 1606. Suku Bugis lah yang pertama kali berinteraksi dengan suku Aborigin Australia dan mentranSfer kearifan lokalnya berupa teknologi kelautan, sehingga kaum Aborigin memiliki kemampuan membuat perahu sederhana dan melaut untuk mencari ikan. Pada saat itu di bagian utara benua Australia terdapat kampung Bugis, jadi secara historis dan budaya mestinya Benua Australia itu merupakan bagian dari Negara Indonesia.

Lukisan perahu Makasar di atas batu menunjukkan adanya hubungan dengan Indonesia (www.dfat.gov.au)

Apapun itu, bolehlah kita berbangga diri, “Kami datang lebih dulu, Mister.”

As key members of the G20, both Indonesia and Australia understand the role of this grouping, and multilateral cooperation generally, in addressing such challenges.

Yet we sometimes forget that the global economy has new drivers, overlooking the fact that emerging markets have become a critical force on the global stage. The World Bank’s 2011 Global Economic Prospects, for example, projects average global growth of 3.3 per cent this year and 3.6 per cent in 2012. By contrast, emerging and developing economies are expanding, on average, by 6 per cent or more each year. This trend is set to continue.

For the G20, the changing nature of this fast-evolving multi-polar world economy presents both opportunities and challenges. Specifically, it is imperative that the G20 focuses on pro-poor growth through quality infrastructure investment, more inclusive finance and the promotion of food security, in order to remain relevant.

Investing in quality infrastructure can provide outstanding returns in terms of growth and development outcomes. But for many developing countries, financing for critical infrastructure investment is inadequate. According to the World Bank, current infrastructure investment and maintenance needs in developing countries are more than US$900 billion a year, but actual infrastructure spending is only around half that level.

Promoting financial inclusion is another high priority for the G20, as around half the world’s population has no access to credit, bank accounts or payment services. Increasing access to innovative, low-cost financial service delivery models has been the subject of serious effort and the World Bank is promoting services like branchless banking and the use of mobile phones in rural areas.

The third challenge is food security: agricultural productivity is low and global food prices are at almost record levels. Combined with continued volatility, the poorest people in the developing world remain at risk. Consequently, G20 agricultural ministers endorsed a package of measures for consideration by G20 leaders at the November 2011 summit in Cannes. One such measure will support the increased transparency of food stocks and production, which will help to reduce uncertainties in the market and better match supply with demand. The G20 also agreed on exemptions for humanitarian food shipments from export bans, so as to reduce the chance that people go hungry in times of crisis because of trade barriers.

Equally, the G20 is encouraging the wider use of market-based instruments to help manage food price volatility. The World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, has launched a new initiative to help cushion the effects of price swings for producers and consumers in developing countries.

The most critical challenge in tackling this issue over the long-term is to improve agricultural productivity and resilience, requiring greater investment in agriculture. To this end, the World Bank has doubled its funding for this sector.

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, which was set up by the World Bank at the request of the G20, is also sponsoring food security plans and promoting smallholder agriculture. To date, six countries — including Australia — and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged about US$972 million over the next three years. The program has already allocated US$481 million to 12 countries.

Indonesia is working with other G20 members to address these key development challenges, and also has the potential to provide a strategic international forum to advance the former’s national interests and support its global responsibilities.

But as the economic landscape shifts, so too does that of global governance. The emerging financial architecture in Asia is now significantly shaped by ASEAN and, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is the voice of this grouping in the G20. There are many ways Indonesia can contribute to the development of a multilateral consensus in the G20.

As a country that has survived deep economic and political crises, it has lessons to share. The country worked hard to come back bigger, better and more resilient after the Asian financial crisis and key economic and political reforms were implemented to reduce vulnerability and to strengthen the country’s financial systems.

Indonesia is learning from the expertise and collaboration that comes through its participation in global forums, but it too is taking development policy and solutions forward through the G20. Indonesian perspectives are important at a time when emerging economies will be the key to global post-crisis recovery and the fight against poverty.

Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati is a Managing Director of the World Bank in Washington and was formerly Finance Minister of Indonesia. This article appeared in the most recent edition of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, ‘Asia’s global impact‘.

Arthur Irawan is on course to become the first Indonesian to compete in the Spanish top flight after signing with La Liga club Espanyol.

Espanyol announced the signing of the 18-year-old striker on Thursday night on its Web site without giving details other than stating that Arthur would play for the youth team.

“In an increasingly competitive football world, the search for young talent has crossed borders and training young players to become elite players of the future has become a key factor in the future of football development,” the club said in a statement.

“The latest addition to RCD Espanyol is Arthur Irawan, a young pearl of Indonesian football, a country to be discovered on a football level. … The challenge now is to see how the player will adapt to the needs and style of European elite football.”

Espanyol, a Barcelona-based club currently seventh in La Liga, said Arthur had also attracted the attention of English Premier League giant Manchester United. However, the youngster’s parents insisted that he complete his high-school education first.

Arthur, who was born in Jakarta, had a brief spell last year with English amateur club Lytham Town, which plays in the West Lancashire Football League.

He was part of the selection process for the Under-23 national team during former coach Alfred Riedl’s time in charge. Despite impressing during tryouts, though, Riedl said Arthur was too young to play for the country at the Southeast Asian Games.

Instead, he returned to England and went on trial with League One club Preston North End, which is also based in Lancashire.

Arthur is not the only Indonesian plying his trade for a European club. In July, three youngsters — defenders Yericho Christiantoko and Alfin Tuasalamony, and striker Yandi Sofyan Munawar — signed contracts to play for Belgian second-division club Cercle Sportif Vise.

Those three were members of Indonesia’s U-19 squad that had been playing in Uruguay’s youth league since 2008. However, they had an in with the club after it was purchased by the Indonesian conglomerate Bakrie Group, which also owns local club Pelita Jaya, Uruguayan side Indonesia S.A.D. and the defending Australian A-League champion Brisbane Roar.

The first Indonesian to play for a European club was striker Kurniawan Dwi Julianto, who spent one season with Swiss side FC Lucerne.

(written by Sandy Pramuji)

Photo: Courtesy of RCD Espanyol

News source: The Jakarta Globe

First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award at a special White House ceremony, the US embassy said on its website, Saturday.

Through this year`s international honoree program, Youth Community Media Project, students in Indonesia created their own videos to raise awareness around issues like poverty, women?s rights, and the effects of natural disasters, the First Lady said in her remarks at the President`s Council on Arts and Humanities Youth Event.

“Every day, with every lesson you teach, you remind our young people that their story is part of the broader American story, and you show them how they, as artists, can challenge our assumptions and help us view our world in new and very unexpected ways. That is precisely what we are trying to do here at the White House, as well,” she said.

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In a country of more than 300 ethnic groups, each with their own languages and dialects, Indonesia cannot be compared with any other country for its rich cultural diversity.

As an archipelago comprising more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world`s fourth most populous country.

Arief Rachman, a member of the Administrative Group of the International Bureau of Education (IBE) Council of UNESCO, said in Paris recently that Indonesia is a unique laboratory for the country`s cultural diversity.

He noted that Indonesia is made up of over 500 tribes who speak more than 700 ethnic languages spread over more than 17,000 islands that are made up of five major islands, including Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua.

In view of the fact that the Indonesian nation consists of so many different ethnic groups, local languages and local cultures,

UNESCO director general Irina Borkova praised the country for its capability to preserve its cultural diversity.

“I expressed my appreciation to Indonesia, a country with cultural diversity,” Irina Borkova recently said in Paris.

Therefore, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was invited by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to present his views on the development and preservation of the country`s cultural diversity.

“In UNESCO`s view, Indonesia had succeeded in maintaining the territorial integrity of its unitary republic (NKRI) and its national unity, although its population consisted of hundreds of different tribes with their own cultures and languages,” Arief said.

That is why he said UNESCO has invited President Yudhoyono to speak at a special UNESCO session to mark the 10th anniversary of its declaration on cultural diversity.

Arief said President Yudhoyono would share Indonesia`s experience in maintaining its cultural diversity for the sake of unity at the upcoming UNESCO General Assembly in Paris.

He added that Indonesia was chosen to deliver a key speech because UNESCO considered the country to be an example of cultural diversity that eventually became a source of the nation’s strength.

According to Arief, Indonesia, with its efforts to maintain its cultural diversity, could become an example of a nation that used its cultural diversity as a key, or main vehicle, to assist in the nation`s progress.

Arief said if even the international community respected the cultural diversity of Indonesia, then all parties within the country should also make every effort to preserve and develop it.

“Therefore, the state and nation, including people from all walks of life, should familiarize themselves with Indonesia`s strength and realize that Indonesia is a great country,” Arief said.

Arief noted that the role of government in developing and preserving the country`s multicultural life was also important, since it could also be used in its foreign diplomacy.

Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono, in his speech at the special session of the 36th UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Wednesday, said a new approach must be found to develop understanding of cultural diversity and differences.

The Indonesian head of state also called on all parties around the world to join Indonesia in creating a new approach to the development of multicultural life.

“The previous paradigm of `I and you` should now be changed to `we`,” the Indonesian president said.

President Yudhoyono said, with this new paradigm, differences of opinion could be reduced to promote a positive multicultural life that would eventually promote respect for human rights.

“I cannot deny that the world is not free from prejudices and other negative notions, but we must challenge it with unity and mutual respect,” he said.

Indonesia, he added, had experienced a number of problems relating to ethnic issues that ended in conflict, but through common efforts by all components of the nation, the awareness had grown that diversity was a national asset that could be used to advance life, and so conflicts could be settled.

“The experience later turned into a lesson and has turned Indonesia into one of the world`s largest democracies,” he said.

Further, an approach that accommodated local interests and respected local cultures helped settle problems, such as in Aceh and Poso, he said.

President Yudhoyono added that Indonesia was grateful that it was living in a diverse society and adhered to the principle of unity in diversity.

He hoped its experience in managing its multicultural life, made up of various ethnic groups and hundreds of different local languages, could contribute to the respect for cultural diversity that UNESCO has long advocated.

President Yudhoyono said, as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), that Indonesia is supporting efforts to develop the understanding of different cultures among ASEAN member countries with regard to creating a region with cultural diversity and promoting the common welfare.

In his speech, the president also appreciated that UNESCO has helped Indonesia protect and develop its cultures, including its recognition of the country`s heritages, such as wayang (puppet), batik, kris, angklung, and its assistance for the maintenance of the Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

Meanwhile, presidential special staff for international relation Teuku Faizasyah said UNESCO`s invitation from President Yudhoyono to

to present his views was a sign of recognition from the international community of Indonesia`s cultural diversity.

“The participation of President Yudhoyono in the special session of the 36th UNESCO General Assembly is an opportunity for Indonesia

to enhance it active role as a bridge builder and solution maker through inter-cultural cooperation,” Faizasyah said.

According to him, the invitation to President Yudhoyono from UNESCO was a display of the appreciation of the UN body to the Indonesian government`s commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural diversity as living assets. (*)

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry along with the Economic Affairs Coordinating Ministry would arrange everything for the fair, Djauhari Oratmangun, General Director of ASEAN cooperation, Foreign Ministry, here on Tuesday.

“To be held on Nov 10-14 at Discovery Shopping Mall in Kuta, Bali, the ASEAN fair will be regarded as one of good legacies of Indonesian chairmanship of ASEAN, as through this event we would like to encourage people-to people-oriented cooperation among the ASEAN countries,” he said

The fair aimed to promote ASEAN culture and dialogue through cultural exchanges such as pop-rock music, culinary exhibition, and exchange of knowledge in innovative and creative industrial development among ASEAN countries,” said Edy Putra Irawady, Deputy of the Creative Industry and Tourism Ministry.

According to him, the ASEAN Fair would offer the public three kinds of events, namely the 2nd ASEAN Plus Youth Cultural Exchange Festival,the 2nd ASEAN Plus Culinary Festival and the ASEAN Plus Unthinkable Week.

In the three events, visitors will not only enjoy pop and rock musical performances from ASEAN artists but they could also taste culinary products from all ASEAN member countries and ASEAN dialogue partners in the Chef Demo that will present to the public foods made by international chefs from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Russia and several European countries.

In the ASEAN plus Unthinkable Week, visitors can enjoy the ASEAN plus Entrepreneur Jamboree encompassing export training and workshop on regional partnership development. Visitors could enjoy innovative product expo, sound and motion festivals that will present Indonesian alternative healing system, Indonesian magic dances, Indonesian Spa and herbal drugs and many others.

“We choose the unthinkable theme as we want to show the world how unthinkable Indonesia is. I mean the beauty of Indonesian cultures and heritages can not be described in words as it is so unthinkable,” Chief of Attraction Section of the ASEAN Plus Unthinkable Week Tito Loho said.

Waktu, one of the Indonesian pop band groups, has stated their excitement in joining this event. “We feel so proud of being chosen to join this event, because we will be Indonesian envoys to promote soft diplomacy among the ASEAN countries.”

“As youth representatives, we hope that peace can be gained through exchange of cultural knowledge,” said Ramdan,” a vocalist of Waktu Band.
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The classically trained chef worked in kitchens from Beijing to Bali and Warsaw to Cairns before becoming head chef for Fivelements Health Hotel in Bali where he turned off his ovens, switched on a dehydrator and found that rice noodles can come from coconuts.

In the process, he lost 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and has never felt healthier.

Runatha spoke to Reuters about discovering and experimenting with raw food and adapting it to Balinese dishes.

Q: How did a classically trained chef turn to uncooking?

A: “It was a long story that started three years ago. The owners of Fivelements here in Bali sent me to The Living Light Culinary Institute in Fort Bragg, California, to study gourmet raw foods. I spent two months learning about this incredible raw food. It really interests me as it is all about health, love and also about life. When we do the raw food we really use our hearts to make it.”

Q: What is gourmet raw food cuisine?

A: “Raw food is based on plants that are not cooked, are unprocessed, have no chemicals and are organic.”

Q: As you do not use a stove, what equipment replaces this primary tool in your kitchen?

A: “For raw foods like bread, we use a dehydrator to make the bread crispy. The dehydrator can also warm soup and thicken sauces. For the sauces we need a good blender, also this is for cake fillings and making nut cheeses. The bread we first make in the food processor, then (put it) into the dehydrator. The basic ingredients of bread are nuts and flax seed, then whatever you want.”

Q: What are the pillars of raw food?

A: “You need to learn about the five flavors to make a choir of the food — how to bind these flavors to get the best result.”

Q: What are the binders used in gourmet raw food?

A: “Binders are avocados, young coconuts … Sweetness is sourced from dried apple, dried pineapple. We also use flax seed for bread and this gives Omega 3. We use dates and nuts, also for a sweetener agave and raw honey … We use no dairy products, no animal products at all – so this is vegan.”

Q: What is your protein source?

A: “You can get protein from vegetables like soya beans and sprouts. You can use spirolina in juices and raw nuts are great protein.”

Q: How does raw food mesh with your traditional Balinese cuisine. Is there an overlap or fusion?

A: “That is the challenge for me. It’s not easy and I need to always experiment in the kitchen. Like sate, it can be made with raw foods using the binders. Last week I even prepared Empek Empek, a dish from Palembang (Sumatra), so we can do it, but don’t ask me if it tastes the same. It really is a challenge to make Indonesian foods as raw food. Even mie goreng (fried noodles), I can make it, but I call it not Mie goreng.”

Q: What is the one ingredient you miss from traditional cooking?

A: “Actually I am not missing any of my old ingredients. I can get everything I want from raw foods.”

Q: What has been the benefit in changing from traditional cooking to working as a raw foods chef?

A: “There has been a real change in my life. I have more energy, I look younger and brighter. Before I had a stomach problem, I was always constipated, now all that has disappeared. I also sleep well.”

Raw Kway Teow recipe – Yields 1 1/2 servings

70 grams zucchini noodles (strips of zucchini)

50 grams young coconut noodles (strips of young white coconut meat scored as noodles)

30 grams bok choy cut in 1 centimetre bias

30 grams bean sprouts

20 grams sliced Shitake mushrooms marinated with lime juice and tamari

10 grams julienne sliced scallions

10 grams julienne sliced red pepper

5 grams cilantro

One half a chopped hot chili

1/2 teaspoon organic tamari

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

4 tablespoons tamarind-almond chili sauce (see recipe)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl, combine well and adjust flavors.

2. Decorate the dinner plate with the tamarind-almond chili sauce and place the Kway Teow on top and garnish with coarsely chopped Cilantro to serve.

Tamarind-almond chili sauce

Yields 70 grams

26 grams seeded and chopped red chili

35 grams almonds soaked for two hours

2 cloves minced garlic

16 grams minced shallots

1 chopped hot chili

35 grams tamarind paste

1 tablespoon organic tamari

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth, adjust the flavors and place in a sealed container in the fridge. The sauce will last up to three days in the fridge.

(Editing by Elaine Lies and Patricia Reaney)

news source: Reuters