Canadian Batik launched during Canada Day celebrations in Jakarta

Posted On: April 3, 2024

Jakarta: Canadian Batik was launched to celebrate the 152nd anniversary of Canada Day in Jakarta. Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Peter McArthur said the batik was a symbol of strengthening cooperation between Canada and Indonesia.

“On this happy occasion, allow me to launch Batik Canada, a symbol of the increasingly close relations between the two countries,” said McArthur at the Fairmont Hotel, South Jakarta, Monday, July 1, 2019.

With a white base color, this unique batik is decorated with Canadian maple leaves. According to McArthur, this batik also shows the characteristics of the two countries which share their diversity.
He added that the closeness of Indonesia and Canada was also demonstrated by President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who spoke intimately at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan some time ago. The proximity of the two countries takes the cooperation between the two countries to a higher level.

Read: Canadian government impressed by local Indonesian products

Currently, cooperation between Canada and Indonesia is developing in various areas, including intercommunity relations. McArthur said many Indonesian students study or have studied in the land of maple. Many Canadian citizens are also beginning to choose to travel to several regions in Indonesia.

The process of making Canadian batik. (Photo: Medcom.id/Marcheilla Ariesta)

In addition to intercommunity relations, information technology cooperation also continues to be encouraged by Indonesia and Canada. Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara said a number of collaborations in this area were being explored, including information exchange.

“Our cooperation is getting closer, because we have the same interests. One of them is to work together to prevent social media from becoming a platform for the spread of terrorism,” Rudiantara said in his speech.

During this celebration, Ambassador McArthur was accompanied by Canada's Ambassador to ASEAN, Diedrah Kelly. Both tried making Canadian batik by painting wax onto fabric with a predetermined pattern.

Also present at the Canada Day celebration were Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs AM Fachir, as well as a number of officials, businessmen and of ambassadors representing countries friendly to Indonesia.

The process of making Canadian batik. (Photo: Medcom.id/Marcheilla Ariesta)