Indonesia Highlights Economic, Tourism, and Culture at Philippines’ Halal Expo

On May 25, 2023, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (CGRI) in Davao City participated in the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism EXPO held at SMX Lanang Premiere. The expo was attended by over 10,000 visitors, including government officials, business leaders, and tourists.

CGRI Davao City showcased an attractive blend of economic promotion, tourism information, cultural aspects, and Indonesia’s economic profile. The Indonesian promotion at the Halal Expo was enlivened by the following participants:

• PT. Safe Care Indonesia, showcases various aromatic essential oils
• Luxfindoe Food Products Processing Davao City, promoting Indonesian cuisine
• DWP Persatuan KJRI Davao City, promoting various traditional Indonesian food and snacks, along with a captivating performance of the Indonesian dance “Gadis Melayu, Anak Medan.”

The presence of KJRI Davao City was further enhanced by the dazzling performances of students from the Sekolah Indonesia Davao (SID) who showcased the Tortor dance, contemporary Indonesian dance “Menari,” as well as the Batam Ensemble highlighting Indonesian-Malay culture and the Betawi ethnic group’s iconic Ondel-Ondel dance.

One of the highlights for visitors was the availability of different Indonesian cuisines on each day of the exhibition, including dishes such as category, nasi kuning, gado-gado, nasi uduk, various traditional snacks, different types of ice desserts and cendol, assorted crackers, sweet soy sauce, and various sambal (Indonesian chili paste).

The CGRI Davao City booth was one of the busiest and most visited booths during the halal expo. The entire CGRI Davao City staff appeared in batik clothing and traditional Indonesian attire, attracting the attention of the visitors.

The Halal Expo was a great opportunity for Indonesia to showcase its economic, tourism, and cultural offerings to the Philippines. The expo was a success, and it is expected that Indonesia will continue to participate in future Halal Expos in the Philippines.

In addition to the economic and tourism benefits, the Halal Expo also helped to promote cultural understanding between Indonesia and the Philippines. The performances by the SID students and the Batam Ensemble were a great way to introduce Indonesian culture to the Filipino audience. The expo also helped to build relationships between Indonesian and Filipino businesses.

The Halal Expo was a great success for Indonesia, and it is expected that the event will continue to grow in the years to come. The expo is a valuable platform for Indonesia to promote its economic, tourism, and cultural offerings to the Philippines.