CID

CONGRESS OF INDONESIAN DIASPORA
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JULY 6-8, 2012

On July 6-8, 2012, Congress of Indonesian Diaspora (CID) will be held in Los Angeles Convention Center, California. This Congress will mark the history as the first grand meeting in the world ever, to be held for the Indonesian Diaspora.

 

The Congress of Indonesian Diaspora will be the first ever forum to bring together and harness the ideas, skills and potential of the Indonesian Diaspora worldwide. CID will allow Indonesian Diaspora- Indonesians, people of Indonesian descent, Indonesianists, i.e. people of all nationalities and ethnicities who hold Indonesia close to their hearts, and investors and companies with interests in and connections to Indonesia – from around the world to meet, interact, foster and implement concrete initiatives to empower Indonesian communities worldwide so that they can play a bigger role, especially in – but not limited to- supporting Indonesia’s economic, social and political progress.

The program will include opening and closing ceremonies presenting inspirational speakers such as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu; Minister of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Ir. KH. Mohammad Nuh (invited); Managing Director of the World Bank, Sri Mulyani Indrawati; international recording artist, Anggun Cipta Sasmi, President of Marvell Technology Group, Dr. Sehat Sutardja, and many other successful Indonesians from many different fields; discussions on various topics such as entrepreneurship, job creation, trade and investment opportunities, education, culture, art and science, consular affairs, and other Indonesia-related issues. CID will also present musical and cultural performances, Indonesian Batik Exhibition and Fair, a career fair as well as an Indonesian food bazaar so attendees can feel and experience Indonesia.

Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago

Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago

KJRI in Chicago

Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago

Indonesian Consulate General in New York

KJRI New York

Indonesian Consulate General in New York

Indonesia Blog

Selamat Datang di Indonesian Blog!

Information for Indonesians abroad for better friendship (indonesiansabroad@gmail.com).

Indonesians in America

Indonesians Students in America

The Obama administration wants to double the number of Indonesians studying in the United States. More than fifty American universities recently attended an education fair in Jakarta as part of a visit by a top American trade official. The United States is reaching out to fast-growing economies like Indonesia and Vietnam as new markets for American goods and services. International students put an estimated nineteen billion dollars into the American economy last year. Last June, the Obama administration set a five-year goal to increase university partnerships and student exchanges with Indonesia. The subjects include agriculture, business and information technology. Micro-scholarships will support intensive language training programs for Indonesians, and for more Americans to study there.Ambassador Scot Marciel says student exchanges create a personal basis for better relations. But he says the United States has to work harder to get more Indonesians to study in America.

He says: "We have to do a much better job of

A) marketing our universities, which are the best in the world; and
B) changing this terrible perception that you can't get a student visa.

So I'm literally almost out on the streets grabbing people as they walk by saying, Hey, we'll give you a visa if you go study in America." Ambassador Marciel says more than ninety percent of Indonesians who request a visa to study in the United States are approved. Still, the number coming to the United States has been falling since the Asian financial crisis in nineteen ninety-eight. Last year, there were fewer than seven thousand. That was a loss of about eight percent from two thousand nine. More Indonesians have been choosing to study in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. But the United States still has many of the world's top universities and research centers. English remains a favorite subject among students from Indonesia. However, many are also choosing business and science.Education Minister Mohammad Nur says increased cultural diplomacy will help develop Indonesia and its friendships. There is a lot of history behind Indonesia's relationship with America, he says. That is why it needs to be strengthened. But the world's largest Muslim-majority nation also wants to strengthen ties with other countries and Europe.Some Indonesian students at the education fair said they are less concerned about where they study than about having enough money to pay for it.For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal. You can learn more about the world everyday and learn English at the same time at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English.