KUCHING. General Consulate of Indonesia in Kuching, Malaysia, recently took part in Sarawak Coffee Festival that was held from July 28 to 30 at the biggest shopping mall in Kuching, the CityONE Megamall.

“Indonesia has so many coffee varieties and its coffee is a favorite drink among many people,” said Tourism Ministry's deputy minister for Overseas Promotion, I Gde Pitana.

Assistant deputy for Southeast Asian Tourism Promotion at the ministry, Rizki Handayani, added that Indonesian coffee is getting international recognition and it’s time for the country to work in creating brand awareness for the local coffee, “So that coffee is at the top-of-mind when people from overseas think of Indonesia."

Themed "A Blend of Coffee, Culture and Friendship", the event featured a coffee exhibition, business networking and coffee-tasting activities.

The Indonesian booth at the event presented coffee producers, farmers, suppliers and distributors from Medan, Bandung, Lampung and Pontianak. 

Indonesian singer Hetty Koes Endang was also invited to perform at the event.

“Hopefully this event becomes a platform to socialize the coffee-drinking culture of one cup a day to the people of Sarawak,” said Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Jahar Gultom.

According to Agriculture Ministry data, Malaysia imported 106,555 tons of coffee beans from Indonesia in 2015.

Culinary sector contributes a total of Rp 208,6 trillion (US$15.7 billion) to the country’s gross national income with 4.5 percent average growth. Culinary industry also creates 3.7 million jobs with 0.26 percent average growth and 3 million business enterprises with 0.9 percent average growth. (kes)

Editor: Sanny Cicilia