May 19, 2015 edition
Sugeng ndalu (good night)," 37-year-old Mahmudi Fukumoto greeted in Javanese, by telephone from Kawasaki, Japan, two weeks ago. Even though he has lived in Japan for the past 14 years, he has not forgotten his mother tongue. He spoke for almost an hour about his company, his project and his vision: to help match Indonesians who interned in Japan with the right local franchise companies back home.
It is a highly ambitious vision, given that he knows little Japanese, virtually no English and not much Indonesian. He is fluent only in his Javanese dialect. But he is determined to do something towards the development of his country, in his own way. "I dream of an economically-independent Indonesia," said Mahmudi.
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More Horizons articles in other editions
May 5, 2015 edition
For Sonita Lontoh, a visit to Jakarta does not mean she will spend all her time with her beloved mother, Constance Lontoh. Like on her last visit two weeks ago, she spent a couple of days attending the World Economic Forum in East Asia, where global leaders from government, business, international organizations, academia and civil society met to dialogue on how to improve cooperation. "I was invited," she said.
Sonita was panelist in a private session billed 'Energy Reforms for Sustainable Growth'. It was a topic right up her alley. Jakarta-born Sonita, who has been living in the United States since 1993 is the head of Global Corporate Marketing of Trilliant, a venture-backed technology company in Silicon Valley that has projects in the United States, Europe and Asia.
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April 21, 2015 edition
I will be in Jakarta onApril 18," was the short message Shamsi Ali sent, two weeks ago. He is part of a five-man delegation of American Muslim leaders who will be visiting Indonesia. "We want to forge communications and cooperation between Indonesians and American Muslims," said Shamsi.
This 47-year-old father of six is not just another member of the Indonesian diaspora. After residing in New York City for the past 18 years, he became director of the Jamaica Muslim Centerthe biggest in the citywatching over a flock of 20,000 Muslims. He is also president of the Nusantara Foundationwhich hosts a variety of activities such as discussions and cultural events. Most of all, he is an activist who goes around the world preaching about Islam.
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January 1, 1970 edition
January 1, 1970 edition