Indonesian pavilion but no national traits<\/p>\n
HANOVER, Germany (JP): The Indonesian pavilion is located in a
\nhuge area of the Hanover Expo 2000, which is occupied together
\nwith several other countries like Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam,
\nUnited Arab Emirates as well as the Palestinians.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian gallery is in the form of a square with a boat-
\nlike room in the center, with a big screen to show films on
\nIndonesia life, namely the life of the Komodo dragon and Anak
\nSeribu Pulau (Children of the Thousand Islands), a children's
\nfilm, telling stories of children from different islands in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The gallery has four entrances to displays of cultures from
\nEastern Indonesia, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java.<\/p>\n
The pavilion and the materials exhibited within are so simple
\nthat one cannot identify the country's characteristics.<\/p>\n
What can be seen are pictures of Indonesian people, nature and
\nhandicrafts from several of Indonesia's regions.<\/p>\n
Apart from two miniatures of N250 and N2130 airplane types
\nproduced by the national aircraft manufacturer, Indonesian
\nAerospace (IAe), recently renamed from IPTN, in Bandung, West
\nJava, no Indonesian technology is displayed.<\/p>\n
In another area, a merchandising cart displays daily needs of
\nIndonesians like a chip container, sachets of local brand
\nshampoo, candy boxes and spices!<\/p>\n
\"It seems that Indonesia does not want to spend more money to
\nsell the country's image, moreover there are also no technology
\ndisplayed there,\" said Volker Wiedersheim, editor of the
\nHannoversche Allgemeine local newspaper.<\/p>\n
Wiedersheim said that a developing country like Indonesia
\ncould also show technology, \"For example they can offer something
\nwhich has not yet been done in developed countries, even though
\nthe technology is simple,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Interviewed separately, the pavilion manager Iwan H. Sulaiman
\nadmitted the poor condition. With a budget of only Rp 15 billion
\nfor the temporary exhibition gallery, Iwan said, \"I honestly say
\nthat we have no target, we just want to attract sympathy towards
\nIndonesia which is now 'black and blue'.\"<\/p>\n
However, he said, even though under such bad conditions the
\ncountry still has potential, especially its natural heritage.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we put more stress on our natural beauty, at the
\nsame time we also want to say that we still have a will to
\nimprove ourselves.\"<\/p>\n
According to him, the decision to join the expo was made two
\nto three years ago when Rahardi Ramelan was minister of industry
\nand trade.<\/p>\n
\"The minister was changed several times ... the final decision
\nwas taken only three months before the expo. Consequently, the
\npreparation was very minimal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Even with the gallery's poor condition, there were big numbers
\nof people attracted to know more on Indonesia after visiting the
\npavilion, Iwan said proudly.<\/p>\n
However, visitor response summaries showed that so far there
\nwere only 57 people who seriously searched for information on
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Most visitors are attracted to search for more information on
\ntourism. We have channeled all of the responses to the related
\ninstitutions in Jakarta or to the Indonesian embassy here,\" Iwan
\nsaid.(ind)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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