The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) introduced Indonesian cuisine to Australian youths participating in the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) through the "Cooking Together with Masters" MASAMO program.

The featured Indonesian dishes were rendang and nasi goreng, both of which are beloved by international tourists.

During the Courtesy Call and Cooking Class event "MASAMO" at the Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf), emphasized the rich culinary potential of Indonesia. He stated that Indonesia has long been renowned for its culinary excellence, in addition to its beautiful natural resources.

"The global community acknowledges and appreciates the popularity of traditional Indonesian cuisine," said Minister Sandiaga.

Culinary is the largest subsector contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the creative economy. The culinary subsector contributed IDR 455.44 trillion or approximately 41 percent of the total GDP of the creative economy in 2020, which amounted to IDR 1,134 trillion.

With Indonesia's vast potential, the presence of Kemenparekraf's flagship program, MASAMO, provides Australian youths with a better understanding of Indonesian culture through its cuisine.

"Through this synergy, we hope to foster a sustainable relationship between Indonesia and Australia," he added.

Kemenparekraf has its own program called "Rendang Goes to Europe," which is a derivative of the Spice Up the World program aimed at promoting Indonesian cuisine internationally.

To strengthen the branding of rendang in the global market, Kemenparekraf collaborates with various parties, using the Wonderful Indonesia logo on rendang packaging.

Rendang Goes to Europe is part of the Indonesian Spice Up The World (ISUTW) national movement launched by President Joko Widodo in 2021. ISUTW is a national campaign driven by the government to enhance the economic value of tourism, trade, and investment through the gastronomy industry.

Penny Williams, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, shared her impressions upon arriving in Indonesia two years ago. She mentioned that there is much to learn about Indonesia through its cuisine.

"The first thing people often say to me is, 'Have you eaten? What is my favorite food in Indonesia?' This was very important when I first arrived here as Ambassador. So, I believe this is the best way to build relationships with people," she said.

Angus Baranikow, a member of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) delegation, expressed his fascination with Indonesia as a unique and special country, which motivated him to learn more about Indonesian culture, language, and diverse culinary offerings.

"I always find new perspectives when learning about Indonesia. Therefore, I would like to thank Kemenparekraf for the invitation today," he said.

Also present at the event were the Secretary of Kemenparekraf/Chief Secretary of Baparekraf, Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani, and the Director of Culinary, Crafts, Design, and Fashion Industry of Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf, Yuke Sri Rahayu.