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Pasarempah Menténg! • Mitra BUMDes Nusantara, Negeri Rempah Foundation, and Kopi Merah Putih, are proud to launch the first spice lodge, "Pasarempah Ménténg." • Located in the historical area of ​​Menteng, Central Jakarta, this lodge is easily accessible from all over the city and outside the city, via the Manggarai Intermodal Integrated Station. • In this spice lodge concept, the exhibitions, trade activities, discussions, tastings, and business classes related to the spice economy are held on an ongoing basis. • For 2022, a number of activities at the spice lodge Pasarempah Ménténg have been organized into two major frames: 1. Pasarempah Nusantara. 2. Collating Mosaics of Spices. Both consist of various activities designed to alleviate the spice economy, targeting local and global market. • We are opening this Pasarempah Ménténg spice lodge starting from Saturday, January 29, 2022. "Spice enthusiasts" can directly visit the location at: "Pasarempah Menténg" Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro - Latuharhary, No.84, Menteng - Central Jakarta. • "Spice Business" who want to join as participants can fill out the registration form, from the link as follows: https://bit.ly/IsiKatalogPasarempah-2 • Registration for the participation of the spice business in Pasarempah Menténg is free of charge, and merely invites each participant to share the cost through a collaborative financing. • For more details, you can contact: Tania, hp-WA +6282144329609 Chaedar, hp-WA +62817421543

TO BECOME A CULTURAL DIPLOMACY AGENTS. Negeri Rempah Foundation and cultural-diplomacy for Spice Route nomination to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Source | 27 September 2020 https://jalurrempah.kemdikbud.go.id/artikel/buku-diplomasi-budaya-jalur-rempah-upaya-meraih-pengakuan-unesco In cultural route category, UNESCO has suggested a join proposal among related countries. Initiated by Indonesia, in order to get support from other countries, there are also needs to establish good relations among them. One is through cultural ambassadors exchange. To make the cultural diplomacy agenda a success, the Directorate General of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology hand-in-hand with the Negeri Rempah Foundation composed guidelines in a book entitled 'Cultural Diplomacy Guidebook'. At the workshop for the preparation of the Guidebook, (28-30/09), the Chair of the Negeri Rempah Foundation, Dewi Kumoratih Kushardjanto, explained, “The cultural diplomacy guidebook was composed to equipped the appointed cultural ambassadors with Indonesian set of values, intercultural insights, understanding of the Spice Route concept, and the reasonings for the Spice Route proposal as a world cultural heritage". She also added, cultural ambassadors who will be appointed by the state are people who are adaptive, skilled in diplomacy, and are able to project indonesia's values and to represent Indonesia in the world. Ratih also explained that the cultural diplomacy should also reflect giving-hands gesture among the countries. This was also conveyed by Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Indonesia's 2001-2009 Minister of Foreign Affairs who is currently Chair the Board of Trustees for the Negeri Rempah Foundation. This giving-hands gesture is a diplomacy that refers to the relationship between Sriwijaya and Nalanda eras. In their time, Sriwijaya and Nalanda built mutually beneficial cultural diplomatic relations. Sriwijaya for example, initiate a monastery in Nalanda. Through student exchanges, Sriwijaya and Nalanda's relationship has reached its peak. The cultural diplomacy model that occurred in the Sriwijaya era will be an important reference for the Spice Route cultural diplomacy, namely a contribution-based culture by giving more through farmer exchanges, exchanges of scientists, writers, chefs, and so on. This will also be discussed later in the 'Cultural Diplomacy Guidebook'. ***

Indonesia is the largest clove exporter to India and Lalpari is the most preferred clove by Indians due to its strong aroma and taste, affordable price and many health benefits. One cultural element that emerged was the naming of Lalpari from the Indian community for cloves produced in the archipelago - Indonesia. Therefore, the Bincang Pasarempah held on late May 21, 2021 was devoted to discussing "Lalpari Cloves - Spice Cultural Relations between India and Indonesia". In this interactive discussion, the Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai and the Chairman of the World Clove Council as representatives of Indian clove entrepreneurs/importers conveyed that there was a need for a unified view on how the parameters of lalpari cloves were in accordance with the market demand in India, which use them for processing food, beverages and medicines. The Lalpari cloves in question have specific characteristics which include reddish brown color, directly picked by hand, a distinctive crown/pistil, drying without a fermentation process, containing oil levels above 18%, containing eugenol levels above 70% and growing in soil types that have high levels of perfect pH where these criterions are very suitable in the territory of Indonesia, based on the council findings from their purchase from Manado area, North Sulawesi. Meanwhile, clove volunteer discussant who represent farmers argue that all types of cloves from the archipelago can be called Lalpari based on their processing method, including those that have a fermentation process, while admitting that cloves in Indonesia are mostly used for the kretek cigarette industry. "Bincang Pasarempah is a routine discussion initiated by Negeri Rempah Foundation to uphold the cultural diplomatic relation through spices economy dynamics". Source : https://kemlu.go.id/mumbai/id/news/13941/cengkeh-lalpari-hubungan-budaya-rempah-antara-india-dan-indonesia

Suwe Ora Jamu, Jakpreneur of The Year 2021. • The Appreciation Night and Awarding of 'Jakpreneur of the Year' at the Bank Mandiri Museum, West Jakarta, Sunday (24/10), was very special for us. 'Jakpreneur of The Year 2021' was awarded to MSME's 'Suwe Ora Jamu' which was founded by Ms. Nova Dewi Setiabudi, one of our best mentors in Pasarempah. • The event was also attended by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs of the Republic of Indonesia, Teten Masduki, and Jakpreneur Jakarta collaborators. • The initiative for this award is in a series of developing a "healthy business ecosystem and a good coaching process so that MSMEs potentials are improved" said Governor Anies. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government initiated Jakpreneur with a target of 44 MSME assistance centers in every sub-district in DKI Jakarta which can bring 200,000 new entrepreneurs . • "In this appreciation night, we gave the awards to individuals who can act as role models, surely being an entrepreneur should show no pessimism, develop the character of always seek opportunities in adversity and these are positive energy we want to extend further. Not only their work but also their optimism," he explained. • Ms. Nova for us is a hard worker, diligent, creative, and very friendly person. Her business activities, which also include classes on herbal medicine and publishing the book 'Cerita Jamu' in various languages, inspired us. Her love for herbal medicine from a very young age made her keep various memorabilia of her favorite herbal medicine in Surabaya, the Jamu Iboe, even when she innovated contemporary herbal medicine. Her friendship with the owner of Jamu Iboe is maintained to this day. • Her perseverance shows when she keeps checking the stock and financial records by herself, as well as managing each of the outlets, including even taking care of each plant. • Congratulations Ms. Nova! We hope you continues to inspire. Jakarta, 7 November 2021. News quote source: https://m.industry.co.id/read/95892/luar-baik-target-umkm-baru-di-jakarta-terlalui-gubernur-anies-alhamdulillah Photo source: https://www.instagram.com/suweorajamu28/

Good morning, "Rempah Nusantara" 's enthusiasts. (A social media managed by PT. Mitra BUMDes Nusantara and the Negeri Rempah Foundation to advance the economic development for the Spices of the Archipelago). • Continuing the tradition of 3Fest Pasarempah (Village of Spice Festival, Spicepreneur, Rembukraya), Our fellow Rempah Nusantara enthusiasts was invited by HE. Agus Saptono, the Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai-India, to participate in Business Matching with the Indian market. • A number of ready-made products were summarized in an e-catalog and presented to him. • "For those who are not ready, would still be able to participate and gain knowledge, by joining the event at the times mentioned in the following information:" • Dear All stakeholders in Indonesian and Indian spices industry, While referring to above invitation enclose, I hereby request you all to join this important session which will be having presence of the prominent speakers talking on Spices from Indonesia and India. It will be an ideal platform for you all since it will be having presence of Indian and Indonesian business community in Spices sector who all are looking forward developing trade relations in Spices sector for exports and imports. Thanking you all once again and we look forward for your valuable presence for this session. Yours sincerely, AGUS P. SAPTONO Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia Mumbai • Virtual webinar business session. "Amazing Spices: Accolade to the India - Indonesia's adamant cohesiveness in exotic spices" Wednesday, October 27, 2021 16.00 – 19.00 (WIB) 14.30 – 17.30 (IST - India Time) Zoom link: https://s.id/TEIBCMumbay Meeting ID: 82171364087 All Participants are requested to change the name before entering the Zoom Meeting according to this following format: Company's Name_Participant's Name Example: ABC Company_Angelina All participants are requested to pre-register their presence by filling-up the form as mentioned below: https://forms.gle/JAJamF9yDauwzPkJ7 *The webinar would be followed by business interaction session between stakeholders post the webinar that would be a good platform to initiate business enhancement in spices amongst stakeholders.* The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai in collaboration with the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) in Chennai is proudly present to you a session of virtual Webinar with the theme of Amazing Spices: Accolade to the Adamant Cohesiveness of India- Indonesia in Exotic Spices during Trade Expo Indonesia 2021 Digital Edition. This event is aimed to give information as well as literation for giving education regarding the commodity of spices and market access, of which are well known for being one of important trading commodities between India and Indonesia since centuries ago. Spices as commodities are not only being important for both countries, but also played significant role in paving historical cohesiveness in people to people contact between two countries. This is could also be a platform to provide information as well as strategic approaches that could benefit many spices stake holders, mainly for traders, spices farmers as well as small and medium entrepreneurs that could lead to be the catalyst of value-added products of spices. The perspective presented in this seminar are covered information from India’s authority in Food Safety and Standards Association of India which would cover India's policies and regulations on spices products in India's market access. Furthermore, this webinar would also cover upstream information related to spices crop cycle, effects of weather to crop and other issues related to spices currency. ***

Dear Indonesians and Indonesia's enthusiasts. Indonesia Gastronomy Network and Negeri Rempah Foundation partners with Google Arts & Culture. Supported by: Google International, Google ID & the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf). Indonesia Gastronomy Network and Negeri Rempah Foundation is very proud to announce a collaborative program with communities, experts, academics, and industry players across the Creative Economy sub-sectors in culinary arts, illustrations, design, film, music, apps and digital, including: • Indonesia Gastronomy Network, • Negeri Rempah Foundation, • Acaraki, • Tempeh Movement, • Rendang Minang Legacy to The World (Reno Andam Suri). We invite you to join the Virtual Launching for our Google Arts & Culture's platform, on: Thursday, 23 September 2021. 10.30-11.30 WIB. (Jakarta time, UTC+7). Live streaming on Google Indonesia and Kemenparekraf Youtube channels. Please click the link and see you on time! Google Indonesia: https://youtu.be/g9bUaUfyfko Kemenparekraf: https://youtu.be/bAE2Vt7ULpY Spice Up the World: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/indonesian-gastronomy ***

Indonesian Diaspora Business Council (IDBC) dan Negeri Rempah Foundation (NRF) menandatangani kerja sama untuk mengangkat rempah Indonesia mendunia. Seperti kita ketahui, Indonesia adalah negeri yang kaya akan rempah-rempah, namun sayangnya, rempah-rempah Vietnam, Thailand dan Malaysia justru lebih mendominasi di pasar mancanegara. Langkah kerja sama strategis ini, diharapkan bisa terbangun kolaborasi yang kuat antara diaspora Indonesia dan komunitas yang berada di bawah NRF. Penandatanganan nota kesepahaman ini dilakukan oleh Presiden IDBC,Fify Manan, dan Ketua Yayasan Negeri Rempah, Kumoratih Kushardjanto, disaksikan oleh Wakil Presiden IDBC Astrid Vasile (Australia), perwakilan dari Dewan Pengurus Yayasan Negeri Rempah dan Koordinator Program Pasarempah, Chaedar Saleh Reksalegora. NRF yang salah satu pendirinya adalah Hasan Wirayuda, mantan Menteri Luar Negeri RI, telah dikenal sejak lama dengan komunitasnya. Bukan saja dalam hal pengembangan sisi ekonomi bisnis dari rempah-rempah Indonesia, tapi juga membangun narasi bahwa melalui rempah-rempah, juga menjadi ajang mengenalkan budaya, nilai dan keberagaman. Hal ini disampaikan Kumoratih atau akrab disapa Ratih, pendiri lain NRF saat penandatanganan kerja sama ini secara virtual (02/09/2021). “Peran diaspora Indonesia amat besar dalam mempromosikan Indonesia. Apalagi, saat ini Indonesia tengah berupaya untuk menominasikan Jalur Rempah sebagai World Heritage. Kita perlu mempererat persahabatan dan kerja sama dengan negara-negara sahabat.. Dengan dukungan diaspora Indonesia, kita dapat mengambil langkah awal yang baik menuju tujuan kita, termasuk strategi untuk mengembangkan usaha di negara lain tempat diaspora kita berada. Narasi Jalur Rempah dapat turut memperkuat diplomasi Indonesia dalam konteks ekonomi,” ujar Ratih. Di sisi lain, Fify mengatakan Indonesia sebagai negara kepulauan terpendam harta karun yang sangat berharga yaitu rempah. “Indonesia merupakan surga dunia untuk rempah, mestinya ini bukan sekadar komoditi, tapi harus dengan value added kita bisa ekspor rempah-rembah sebagai bahan olahan bumbu masak. Saat ini bumbu rempah olahan didominasi Thailand, Vietnam dan Malaysia. Bumbu masakan Indonesia mestinya bisa lebih luas peluangnya, agar kesejahteraan UMKM meningkat juga petani Indonesia,” tandasnya. Fifi menambahkan kuliner Indonesia harus bisa mendunia jika bumbu rempahnya juga mendunia. “Para diaspora yang bergerak di bidang kuliner yang terbanyak saat ini, dengan kerja sama ini, saya yakin bisa mendukung bisnis mereka,” ujarnya. Lalu dengan berkembangnya pemasaran secara online, IDBC sebelumnya telah mengembangkan IDBC Trade Link. Dijelaskan Diski, tim dalam pengembangan teknologi di IDBC, bahwa akan banyak membuka peluang dengan memasukkan komunitas di bawah NRF, yang merupakan UMKM rempah, terkoneksi dengan diaspora yang membutuhkan rempah-rempah. IDBC TradeLink bukan sekadar e-commerce, lanjut Diski, karena di dalamnya juga menjadi tempat promosi dan kolaborasi perdagangan virtual, serta dapat turut menampung informasi para pelaku UMKM. Termasuk di dalamnya, Pasarempah, yang bisa membawa komunitas ini ke pasar global. Platform ini dapat diakses melalui situs idbc-tradelink.com. Tujuan platform ini adalah menghubungkan peluang bisnis di antara Diaspora Indonesia di seluruh dunia dan mempercepat promosi bisnis Indonesia; menyediakan platform direktori bisnis yang komprehensif sebagai sumber data tunggal untuk bisnis Diaspora Indonesia; serta mengakomodir kolaborasi bisnis melalui platform interaksi seluler yang mudah digunakan. Ke depannya, IDBC dan Negeri Rempah akan menggelar berbagai kegiatan diskusi dan bincang virtual yang mengetengahkan beragam topik dan narasumber yang menginspirasi. Melalui platform Tradelink, kolaborasi menjadi lebih mudah karena platform ini memiliki kapasitas untuk menyediakan "forum" yang sederhana dan mudah diakses oleh para anggotanya. Astrid mengatakan kolaborasi adalah alat bisnis yang kuat untuk komunitas bisnis, terlepas dari ukuran atau industri mereka. Ada rasa urgensi untuk dapat memenuhi berbagai kebutuhan banyak pihak yang berkepentingan dalam peluang ekonomi UKM ini. “Prioritas kami adalah untuk menampilkan bisnis luar biasa kepada komunitas ekspor, bangsa dan Diaspora Internasional, dan menghubungkan peluang bisnis di antara diaspora Indonesia di seluruh dunia dan mempercepat promosi bisnis Indonesia,” terangnya. Fify menyebut saat ini ada 12 juta diaspora di seluruh dunia dan TradeLink bergerak untuk membuktikan model platform yang unik, mendorong produktivitas melalui desain dan pengembangan terintegrasi di semua bidang Mode dan aktivitas industri lainnya. Ratih menambahkan bahwa berkat komoditas rempah-rempah, Nusantara dari masa ke masa menjadi tempat bertemunya manusia dari berbagai belahan dunia yang sebagian besar memiliki semangat bukan semata untuk berdagang, tetapi juga untuk membangun peradaban. Jalur perdagangan rempah inilah yang menjadi sarana bagi pertukaran antarbudaya yang berkontribusi penting dalam membentuk peradaban dunia. “Melalui rempah, kita bisa mengembangkan new sense of identity, jalur rempah sebagai warisan dunia, literasi tentang budaya harus kita sebarkan bersama. Bukan saja terkait pengembangan ekonomi, inilah saatnya rempah bisa memproyeksikan value Indonesia ke dunia. Kolaborasi ini bisa membuka ruang lebih luas, yang telah bergabung dengan yayasan ini, baik yang tidak terkait ekonomi maupun para UMKM,” ujar Ratih. Penulis: Herning Banirestu Sumber: IDBC-NRF Akan Bawa Rempah Indonesia Mendunia | SWA.co.id

Founded in 2016 by Rowland Asfales, Pijakbumi has become an Indonesian local brand that attempts to adopt the concept of closed-loop fashion and environmentally-friendly in footwear industry. Long story short, Asfales met some shoe craftsmen who lived in such poor living conditions around the Cibaduyut area—they work, they eat, and they also sleep in the same room contaminated with the unpleasant smell of chemical adhesives. Meanwhile, the rise of Indonesia’s middle-class are also potentially consuming 17,680,000 sneakers in 2020. If the unethical production and consumption are still going on, it will lead us to water scarcity and land erosion in 2040. Asfales then came up with an idea to create better shoes in more eco-responsible way. He wanted to promote the beauty of local high craftsmanship with proper attention to reducing harmful impacts on workers and the environment. Thereafter, in April 2016, Asfales established his footwear brand namely Pijakbumi. The name itself refers to the philosophy of Earthing which is believed as one of the most healing remedies nature has to offer—in hopes that Pijakbumi will make people feel more connected to Mother Earth. Along the process, Pijakbumi offers solutions to create casual-daily footwear with good design, fairly-priced, and ethical approaches. Through their brand-driven storytelling and social environment campaign, they empower society to implement eco-responsible production and consumption. Their solutions can be applied starting from reducing water use in material processing and manufacturing, reducing the use of hazardous chemicals, and implementing waste management and post-consumer programms through the 3R process ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’. For 4,5 years since the inception, Pijakbumi has been working in partnership with material researchers to develop biodegradable and plant-based materials. Presently, they are aiming to optimize the eco-benefits they offer by implementing mass-customization manufacturing strategy, post-consumer programme, and carbon-offset campaign. These collaborative sustainable design programmes will enable their consumers to directly contribute to sustainability; starting from selecting sustainable material, designs, colors and recycling options. As a result, both Pijakbumi and their consumers will be going hand-in-hand to create eco-responsible products and measure the impact to our environment. The Brief History of Pijakbumi Ecological Materials : In 2016, their products were made out of only one eco-material namely vegetable-tanned leather (animal leather). For the time being, 90% of their shoe components are made of plant-based materials. In partnership with their material researchers, Pijakbumi is developing product designs using : Kenaf Fibers, Ramie, Water Hyacinth, Natural Raw Rubber, Recycled Cotton, Nyamu Wooden Leather, and TENCEL™ Modal and they are currently looking for investment of $250,000 for Angel round. Tractions : 2016 Third Winner of The Big Start Indonesia 2017 Best Good Design Indonesia 2017 2018 Finalist at G-Mark Japan & Amazon Tokyo Fashion Week 2018 2019 5 Top Global Insta-preneur Instagram Academy 2019 Representative of Indonesia Sustainable Local Brand in Project Tokyo, Japan 2020 12 Global Emerging Footwear Designer at Micam Milano, Italy Started to broaden their market to Japan and Switzerland

An Indonesian professor working at an American university has discovered a new variety of rice that carries a low glycemic load, which many consider to be crucial in the fight against diabetes and obesity. Herry Utomo, a professor at Louisiana State University's Rice Research Station and his team of researchers made fundamental changes to the rice grain to allow slower digestion of carbohydrates into glucose, making it safe for diabetic people to eat. "The team of researchers also increased the rice grain's protein content to 50 percent more than the protein content of typical rice," Herry said in a statement. As a result, the newly invented rice has an average GI index of 41, which was determined based on human clinical trials on cooked white rice. There are three groups of glycemic ratings for food: low with a glycemic index of 55 or less, medium with a glycemic index of 56-69, and high with a glycemic index of 70 or more. In general, high carbohydrate food, such as wheat, has an average glycemic index of 74; potatoes, 78; and corn, 55. Rice has an average glycemic index of 73 and, therefore, is categorized as a high glycemic food source. Given this glycemic index, rice, which is the main staple food in Asia and Indonesia in particular, has been blamed for diabetes and obesity. Worldwide, more than 463 million people, 9.3 percent of the world's population, suffer from diabetes. In Indonesia, more than 10.7 million people or 6.2 percent of its population have diabetes. By 2045, the prevalence of diabetes is estimated to rise to 10.2 percent (578 million) by 2030 and 10.9 percent (700 million) by 2045. "Consumption of lower glycemic foods can help prevent unnecessary snacking and excessive calorie consumption. This makes low glycemic rice an important factor in obesity prevention," Herry said.

William shares his beef rendang recipe an Indonesian culinary expert and icon, William Wongso knows almost everything about how to serve the country’s best traditional dishes. And after nearly 50 years of cooking, he’s currently on a mission to share his recipes with the world and let people from both the country and abroad savor the flavor of Indonesia. William describe Indonesian food, as only region cooking There is no official ‘Indonesian food’ - only region cooking. You need to start with an appreciation of how food is created in each region. You may not like the food but you cannot say, "it’s bad". Every dish has been created for a reason. Internationally acclaimed Master Chef and Food Ambassador for Indonesian cuisine, William Wongso is humble well beyond his accolades. With a following of almost 70,000 on Instagram, an award-winning cookbook to his name along with a television series which rates highly Favorite version of Indonesian Rendang Rendang has been cited by CNN and other media as one of the world’s most outstanding recipes. It was also a recipe featured in the National Geographic Unchartered filming. What’s your take on this dish and the secret to preparing your favorite version of Indonesian Rendang Pak William ? Culinary pride “West Sumatran Carmelized Beef Curry.” Rendang is the culinary pride of the Minangkabau Region of West Sumatra. In English, Rendang can be called “West Sumatran Carmelized Beef Curry.” As I told Gordon Ramsay, there are more than 20 versions of Rendang, with every family having their own secret recipe inherited from their grandmothers. In West Sumatra, each village has its own spices paste composition and ingredients. The method that most Indonesian cook and are familiar with never cooks less than 4 hours due to the quality of the beef and the need to tenderize the meat by prolonged, slow cooking. But all Rendang recipes share caramelization as the finishing touch. Western Sumatra has the very best quality of ripe coconuts that yield thick coconut cream that is combined with chili and other spices on Rendang’s trip to the dining table. After previously sharing Ramsay's rendang recipe, here is the rendang recipe used by William Rendang Padang Serve: 16 to 18 pieces Ingredients: 1 kg topside beef (diced into 4 x 4 cm cubes) 1.5 liter coconut milk or coconut cream 2 g tamarind 30 g lemongrass 1 turmeric leaf 4 kaffir lime leaves salt to taste Chili paste: 150 g red chili 40 g shallots 40 g garlic 30 g candlenuts 1 g cloves 60 g galangal Method: Blend red chili, shallots, garlic, candlenuts, galangal, cloves and turmeric into a paste. Prepare saucepan, add coconut cream and spice paste and mix well, bring to the boil. Add diced beef, mix well. Add kaffir lime leaves, tamarind and lemongrass and keep stirring until the color of the sauce changes to golden brown and the oil comes out from the coconut milk. Continue stirring on a low heat until the sauce color changes to dark brown and caramelizes and the meat is tender. Serve with steamed rice. Start making your Rendang now. Good luck!

Fify Manan reveals the challenges she faces as an entrepreneur, what it takes to expand a business on an international scale, and about being a member of the Indonesian diaspora Fify Manan is President and CEO of Formcase Group, a furniture manufacturing firm based in Tangerang that was founded by her father-in-law Erwin Manan in 1963. Her husband, Robert Manan, joined the business in the early 1990s, initiating the transformation from home industry into mass production, and started exporting to Asia and the Middle East. Fify later joined the company in 2000 and successfully expanded Formcase into the US and Europe in 2001. Design with Ease Running a business overseas is challenging, especially in the US. Fify explains that her customers are very picky and tend to search for mistakes. “It’s not easy to keep up with their standards, since the US has a mature market, and they expect the best quality from a brand,” Fify says.. She adds that in the US a piece of furniture has to last for four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Moreover, due to ocean freight shipping, which can take up to 30 days, it is important to have reliable and sturdy packaging to ensure the lasting quality of the product. Create Relevant Content With the GSA contract, Formcase has the right to supply all government agencies in the US, including the Department of Defense—the army, the navy, and the air force—even outside of the US, such as to Japan, Korea, and Guam. “It’s like a blessing in disguise,” says Fify, who also managed to set up distribution in 20 states. Not only that, she has further managed to establish wholesale and distribution networks in six global regions—Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the US. Fify says that the biggest market is still North and South America. Stun Your Readers Be original, show off your style, and tell your story. This smart Indonesian Diaspora businesswoman, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University and attended an MBA programme at the University of Tulsa, established PT Rifyo Indonesia in 2012 when she came back to Indonesia for good. Unlike Formcase, which is a manufacturer and exporter, Rifyo is an importer that focuses on the domestic market, providing furnishings and design solutions for offices. Connect with Fify Outside her business, Fify is President of Indonesian Diaspora Business Council (IDBC) and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Indonesian Diaspora Network. “At IDBC, we act as a bridge between Indonesian diaspora businesses and those in the country. We assist small and medium-sized companies that want to export their products. As for my role, I always encourage the younger generation to continue their leadership,” Fify concludes.

According to the American Society of Agronomy, it's an unfortunate fact that many people in developing nations don't get enough protein in their diets. What they often do get a lot of, however, is rice. With that in mind, scientists have improved upon a type of rice that has over 50 percent more protein than regular varieties. Two years ago, a Louisiana State University team led by Prof. Herry Utomo released a high-protein long-grain rice cultivar known as Frontière. It was developed via a traditional breeding process, and it has an average protein content of 10.6 percent – that's a 53-percent increase over the protein content of the conventional Cypress rice with which the team started. Design with Ease Additionally, it requires less heat, time and water to cook. In order to address that shortcoming, Utomo and colleagues recently tested 20 newly-developed lines of high-protein rice Create Relevant Content This new line is now ready for final field testing. It is hoped that the harvested rice could serve not only as a basic food, but also as a source of protein-rich rice flour, rice milk, or other food ingredients. Marketed as Cahokia rice Scientists have also recently introduced new high-protein varieties of bananas and potatoes. the original Frontière line is now being grown commercially in Illinois. Farmers reportedly don't incur any extra costs, or need to change their current rice-growing practices in any way. Get Inspired "There are hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on rice and eat it three times a day, but their access to protein is very limited by availability and cost," explains Herry Utomo, a professor at Louisiana State University. "High-protein rice can be used to help solve the worldwide problem across social, cultural, and economic issues." Do you want to connect with Prof. Herry Utomo ? Just send your message at the contact page, we will get back to you very soon.