Embassy of Indonesia casts light on Batik art in Hama

The Embassy of Indonesia in Syria today held a batik art workshop “Drawing on Cloth” as a popular Indonesian heritage under the supervision of Fini  Afwani  Alam Shah, an expert from the Indonesian Batik House Company.

The workshop is held at the hall of Hama municipality in cooperation with Hama Municipality. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Damascus Wajid Fawzi said that the workshop represents the first activity of the embassy in Hama and aims at strengthening brotherly relations between Indonesia and Syria, expressing hope that this activity will be an opportunity to get acquainted with Indonesia better.

The Ambassador pointed to Indonesia’s diversity of resources, which makes it one of the countries with promising economic opportunities. The Ambassador noted that the 34th trade exhibition of Indonesia will be held between 16 and 20 October and welcomed the participation of Syrian businessmen and traders which in turn will serve the economic interests of the two countries.

Hama Governor Dr. Mohammed Al-Hazouri and Eng. Adnan Tayara, Chairman of Hama Municipality, stressed the importance of the workshop in enhancing cooperation between the two countries and getting acquainted with the Indonesian Batik art, especially due to the fact that Hama is a city of authenticity, heritage, handicrafts and traditional crafts.

During the workshop, a documentary film about Hama was screened. The expert Alam Shah presented an explanation on the Batik art, which has been classified as a human heritage by UNESCO in 2009, in addition to the basic techniques of making it and its advantages as it is a traditional folk costume that Indonesians prefer to wear on various occasions.

Secretary of the Baath Party branch in Hama, Mohamed Ashraf Bashouri and figures representing trade union, scientific and economic activities attended the workshop.

The Indonesian Ambassador visited Hama University and met with its Rector Dr. Mohammad Ziad Sultan, who briefed the ambassador on the university and its establishment, colleges and institutes and on the scientific researches.  The rector expressed readiness to cooperate with Indonesian universities in this regard.

The Ambassador also visited Hama Chamber of Commerce, where he was briefed on the reality of trade and economic movement in the province and ways to strengthen and boost the trade exchange between businessmen and investors from both sides.

The Indonesian Ambassador and the accompanying delegation toured yesterday a number of tourist, archaeological and religious monuments in Hama.

Inas Abdulkareem