Visitors soaking in the morning sun while enjoying Indonesian dishes at the Gebyar Nusantara event. —SAMUEL ONG/The Star
INDONESIA injected fresh momentum to its socioeconomic ties with Malaysia through Gebyar Nusantara, a business matching event in Kuala Lumpur aimed at bringing the two countries closer via creative sectors.
The two-day carnival themed “Flavours of Harmony: Discover Indonesia Through Taste, Style and Creativity” featured dozens of stalls by Indonesian small and medium-sized enterprises selling traditional delicacies and attire, among others.
In addition to performances by artists from the republic, visitors also had the opportunity to check out booths displaying the latest offerings from Indonesia’s entertainment and media industry.
A booth offering food from Indonesia (above) drawing visitors in at the sun-soaked Gebyar Nusantara held at The Exchange TRX (right). — Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Indonesian Embassy minister counsellor (Economy) Hendra P. Iskandar said Gebyar Nusantara, held at The Exchange TRX, was a platform to better understand the needs and wants of Malaysian consumers.
“We are interested to learn more about what draws Malaysians to Indonesia,” he said, adding that since 2023, Malaysian tourists made up the highest number of foreigners entering Indonesia.
Hendra said a year earlier, the inaugural version of the carnival drew over 14,000 visitors, with 38% of products featured successfully penetrating the Malaysian market.
“A handful of memorandum of understanding were also signed then, which proved that the business matching initiative was fruitful,” he said.
