With the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17 still fresh in everyone’s memory, today – Sunday September 6 – was its turn to celebrate its Universal Exposition National Day. As always, the day began with the flag-raising and national anthems ceremony. Welcoming the Indonesian delegation was Italy’s Under-Secretary of State to the Ministry of the Environment, Barbara Degani, who having thanked the country and greeted it on behalf of the Italian Government, underlined the exceptional importance of Indonesia’s participation in this Universal Exposition, “a participation which sets a shining example, in a spectacular Pavilion which everyone should see and experience as something truly unique.”
She continued by stating that “Expo Milano 2015" offers an extraordinary opportunity to confront themes connected with sustainable development and nourishment. The Milan Charter is a powerful and possible manifesto which involves everyone. And Indonesia is offering a crucial contribution to the debate by exhibiting its potential in the field of agricultural food production.” Also present were Indonesia’s Ambassador to Italy S.E. August Parengkuan, the representative of Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rachmat Gobel and the Commissioner General of the Indonesian Pavilion in Expo Milano 2015 Nus Nuzulia Ishak.
The structure of the
Indonesian Pavilion is reminiscent of a home, a welcoming domestic place. Two striking words indicate two basic concepts: Bubu, the traditional fishing trap, and Lumbung, the traditional method for storing harvested crops, highlighted in the inauguration speech of
Saleh Husin, the country’s Minister for Industry: “Our Pavilion is small but unique. Its shape echoes that of the bubu, the structured net used for catching fish, even the smallest ones, thanks to its inner cavity. The Pavilion has been widely appreciated, not least because it is not only one of the most impressive in the Exposition, it is also one of the most sustainable, truly reflecting the event’s Theme, so fundamental to dealing with the challenges the world faces today.”
The Minister also emphasized the extraordinary success of the Independence Day celebrations two weeks earlier, during which the public had been able to participate in the presentation and consumption of the Tumpeng, the traditional dish based on rice, meat and vegetables usually prepared for major occasions. “The Tumpeng made that day for Expo Milano 2015 simultaneously broke two world records, certified by the Guinness Book of Records: the highest tumpeng in the world and the biggest ever made outside Indonesia. With this dish”, underlined Husin, “we turned the theme of Expo, Feeding the World, into reality.” The Minister also focused on the role Indonesia plays in the world’s supply chain: “We are a supplier of agricultural products and of processed foods. We hope” he continued “that our participation in Expo Milano 2015 may also support tourism and trade with the rest of the world.”
