North Penajam Paser (ANTARA) - The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) is raising public awareness on reducing single-use plastic by organizing a culinary festival in North Penajam Paser District, East Kalimantan —the development site of Indonesia’s new capital.
"Our goal is to encourage merchants and visitors to begin reducing the use of plastic packaging in their daily activities," OIKN Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources, Myrna Asnawati Safitri, stated in Sepaku, North Penajam Paser, on Sunday.
She noted that the main targets of this educational initiative are newcomers to the future capital, including civil servants.
The culinary festival featured dozens of booths offering local dishes and encouraged participants to adopt eco-friendly packaging, contributing to the creation of clean, healthy public spaces free from plastic waste.
The event also included a coloring contest for children, live music, and a culinary training activity for visitors interested in starting a business in the food and beverage sector.
"Educational messages delivered in a relaxed and interactive setting tend to be better received by the public," Safitri stated.
She added that the event also aimed to build connections between residents and civil servants in the city.
She went on to say that the OIKN plans to hold the festival regularly in a bid to stimulate economic activities while fostering a vibrant, livable urban environment for Nusantara residents.
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Future editions, she continued, might take place in different locations and adopt the concept of temporary street markets seen in other countries.
Safitri also affirmed the OIKN’s commitment to developing Nusantara both in infrastructure and human capital, including through dedicated spaces for local micro, small, and medium enterprises in community-based activities.
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Aneke Wuisang, a participant in the culinary training, shared her impressions of the activity.
"We are glad to have had the opportunity to join this activity, which is economically beneficial and provides us with valuable insights into entrepreneurship," she said.
