Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrives in Indonesia to cheering crowds

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Wednesday signed agreements in areas ranging from trade to aviation as the kingdom's monarch visited the world's most populous Muslim-majority country for the first time in nearly half a century. To commemorate the event, King Salman prepared his luggage thoroughly, including an airfreight company tasked with transporting some 500 tons of material, including two Mercedes-Benz limousines, among other objects. King Salman headed directly toward the Bogor Presidential Palace and attended a launch reception.

As part of the elaborate preparations for the visit, 150 chefs have been hired to cook food for the king and his party, according to local media.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman is travelling in style on an official visit to Indonesia.

The leaders oversaw the signing of 11 cooperation memoranda following Wednesday's talks at the Bogor palace.

President Widodo and King Salman witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperation in areas of fighting crime, trade, investment, fishery, research and technology, high education, culture and health.

Salman, 81, said he hoped the visit would "contribute to the improvement of the bilateral relationship between our two countries".

King Salman, who arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday along with 1,500 members of his entourage who are accompanying him during his month-long visit to several Asian countries, is set to spend five days in Bali, from March 4 to 9.

The king is due to give a speech to parliament on Thursday and visit South-east Asia's biggest mosque during his three-day visit to Jakarta.

The king's visit to Indonesia also comes as fringe Islamist groups grow in influence and Muslim leaders take an increasingly strict line on Islamic issues, which is at odds with Indonesia's traditional brand of moderate Islam. Following his departure from Jakarta, the monarch will carry on with his three-week tour across Asia, visiting Malaysia, and then Japan, China and the Maldives.

Source: Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrives in Indonesia to cheering crowds

FDCI joins hands with Jakarta Fashion Week

New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI) Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is partnering with Jakarta Fashion Week to encourage a cross-cultural exchange of designer talent between the two nations.

As a part of the first year of the exchange, Indonesian designer, Novita Yunus, will light up the runway at this year's Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter with her label 'Batik Chic'.

AIFW, which will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from March 15 to 18, will give stage to traditional techniques and symbolisms curated by the Indonesian designer.

Later in the year, as a part of the exchange with Jakarta Fashion Week, an Indian designer will highlight the brilliance of Indian creativity on the Indonesian platform.

On the announcement, Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, "This interesting exchange between our country and Indonesia will make it a spectacular rendition of cross-cultural understanding.

"We hope to create more avenues of engagement for designers, to explore the creative potential of both the countries."

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.

Source: FDCI joins hands with Jakarta Fashion Week

Saudi media delegation Visits "Indonesia University" in Jakarta

    The media delegation accompanying the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud visited here today Indonesia University.

Upon arrival, the delegation was received by a number of officials.

The delegation was briefed on the activities and achievements of the university.

Then, the media delegation toured the university.

At the end of the visit, memorial gifts were exchanged and memorial photos were taken.

Source: Saudi media delegation Visits "Indonesia University" in Jakarta

Indonesian AQA nabs a snake smuggler at Jakarta

JAKARTA: The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Agricultural Quarantine Agency thwarted a smuggling attempt of two pythons, locally known as sanca batik.

"We teamed up with [the post office] Pos Indonesia to uncover this smuggling case," said the Agency's head Banun Harpini. The snakes were in a box that was sent through air service of Pos Indonesia.

However, when the box was going to be loaded on a plane, the officers intercepted it. The package was to be sent to Kudus, Central Java, from Sumbawa Besar, West Nusa Tenggara.

"We will carry out an investigation to arrest the perpetrator," he added.

Source: Indonesian AQA nabs a snake smuggler at Jakarta

Jakarta launches co-working space to nurture young entrepreneurs

Aside from co-working, Jakarta Creative Hub will also facilitate training, meetings and conferences. (Shutterstock/File)

The city administration is set to officially launched a co-working space on Wednesday afternoon.

Jakarta Creative Hub is located in the Melati reservoir area of Tanah Abang, near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle (Bundaran HI) in Central Jakarta. The 1,500-square meter space has three main functions, namely serving workshops, as co-offices and as a co-working space. 

The space aims to enable young creative businesses to utilize the provided facilities for a low price.

Jakarta Creative Hub consultant Leonard "Leo" Theosabrata described it as a place to nurture young entrepreneurs, facilitate people wanting to do research and development, as well as to incubate startup communities. Users of the membership-based co-working space and the 12 four-person co-office spaces are expected to create synergy and encourage each other's development.

Read also: Ahok seeks to attract young talent with new co-working space

Leo added that the hub would be different from existing co-working spaces. "This one focuses on encouraging young businesses to create products first and network later," he said, referring to technologies like industrial 3D printers, woodworking, metal machinery, photography and video-making equipment.

He explained that the potential users of the space would undergo a selection process as it aimed to facilitate only serious young businesses. He added that following assistance from the administration, the startups were expected to be able to run independently.

Aside from co-working, Jakarta Creative Hub will also facilitate training, meetings and conferences. (kes)

Editor's note: Paragraph three in this story has been corrected.

Source: Jakarta launches co-working space to nurture young entrepreneurs