Consulate in Kuching hosts Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration

KUCHING (July 27): The Consulate General of Indonesia (KJRI) here hosted the republic’s ‘Independence Day 2024’ celebration today.

According to the Consul-General in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, the event was held ahead of the actual date, Aug 17.

The celebration here kicked off with ‘Jalan Sehat’ (Health Walk) and after that, the event continued with a medley of entertainments featuring live music and performances by Indonesian nationals in Kuching, including members of the consulate staff.

In addition, there was also a blood donation drive and health screening, conducted in collaboration with several hospitals in Kuching.

The host had also set up stalls offering a variety of culinary delights to the visitors throughout the event, which concluded at 2pm.

In his remarks, Raden Sigit expressed hope for increased cooperation between Sarawak and Indonesia, in view of the relocation of the republic’s capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

“The expansion of transportation links, such as increasing flight frequency, remains a focus of this cooperation.

“Our side hopes to re-establish flights from Kuching to Pontianak (Kalimantan) and introduce new flights to Balikpapan to facilitate all connections to Nusantara.

“We also hope to seek cooperation with Sarawak in the energy sector, noting that Sarawak is quite advanced in this area.

“Such a cooperation should be able to help develop energy resources in areas around our new capital,” he told reporters when met at the KJRI building.

Adding on, Raden Sigit also expressed hope for potential Sarawak-Indonesia cooperation in the education and healthcare sectors.

Moreover, the Indonesian consul-general also expressed hope for regional airlines to open new flight routes between the main cities in Sarawak and Nusantara.

He said the new flight route should be able to open up great economic opportunities between Sarawak and Indonesia.