Indonesia's Culinary Wealth Is Increasingly Global Through The ASEAN Festival In Kenya

JAKARTA - Indonesian culinary, which is rich in taste and tradition, has again received world attention through its participation in the 2025 ASEAN Food Festival (AFF) in Nairobi, Kenya. The variety of typical Indonesian dishes is proof of how broad and deep Indonesia's culinary culture is in the eyes of the international community.

The festival, which was held at the Village Market Mall on Saturday, April 26, became an event for Indonesia to promote the taste of the archipelago. In an official statement received in Jakarta, Sunday, the Indonesian Embassy's Ad Interim Business Authority, Danny Rahdiansyah, stated that Indonesia's participation in the 2025 AFF was part of a gastro-demployment effort while supporting the "Indonesia Spice-up the World" campaign.

To present the best dish, the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi collaborated with the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi and the Indonesian diaspora in Kenya. According to Danny, this approach through gastrodisporation is an effective means to strengthen relations between nations.

"Clinary promotions like this are a form of soft power diplomacy, building close relationships through culture, and opening up opportunities for cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism and investment," said Danny.

Soft power diplomacy, he continued, uses artistic and cultural forces to influence global public opinion in peaceful and inclusive ways, and shape a positive image of Indonesia.

In line with that, the Coordinator of Information, Social and Cultural Functions (Pensosbud) R. Wisnu Lombardwinanto also emphasized the importance of gastrodismodification to introduce Indonesia as a multicultural, democratic, tolerant, and respectful nation.

"Through the culinary taste, we can form a new perception of Indonesia in the international world," said Wisnu. He added that the global community is now increasingly interested in enjoying the authentic taste, including from Indonesia, which is a golden opportunity to expand the reach of the nation's cultural promotion.

Chairman of the Ad Interim DWP KBRI Nairobi, Seira Wallentina, appreciates the cohesiveness of the Indonesian Embassy, DWP, and the Indonesian diaspora community who contributed greatly to Indonesia's successful participation in AFF 2025.

"Hopefully this experience will foster greater interest for the world community to visit Indonesia directly," said Seira.

The ASEAN Food Festival (AFF) 2025 itself is an annual event initiated by the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), presenting representatives of ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, as well as the Vietnamese community even though Vietnam does not yet have a representative office in Kenya.

In the festival, Indonesia exhibited superior culinary delights such as rendang, chicken satay, meatballs, cendol ice, and various traditional snacks. Not only food, various special handicraft products such as batik, weaving, woven, and wayang are also displayed to complement the cultural experience of visitors.

The enthusiasm of visitors to the Indonesian booth is very high, as evidenced by the fast running out of all offerings before the official event ends.

The festival was attended by visitors from all over the world, from Africa, Europe, America, Asia, to the Pacific, who enthusiastically enjoyed ASEAN's culinary wealth, including the deliciousness of Indonesian cuisine.

The success of Indonesia's participation in AFF 2025 is a real part of the strategy to strengthen nation branding' through direct promotion of Indonesian culinary and cultural affairs in the international arena.