Dewa Made Indra 

DENPASAR, Balitopnews.com – A total of 2,183 interns from the Association of Overseas Internship Organizers (AP2LN) Region V Bali and Eastern Indonesia officially departed for Japan at an event titled "From the Island of the Gods to the Land of the Cherry Blossoms: Forging Friendships, Building the Future" held at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar on Thursday (November 13, 2025).

The release was attended by the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Prof. Yassierli, Regional Secretary of Bali Province Dewa Made Indra, who represented the Governor of Bali, Consul General of Japan in Denpasar Mr. Makoa Katsuroshi, Expert Staff of the Minister of Manpower for International Relations Agung Niru Rachmad, Special Staff of the Minister of Manpower Muhammad Arfian, Head of the Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Office of Bali Province Ida Bagus Setiawan, and General Chairperson of AP2LN Firman Budiyanto. Also present were the heads of the manpower offices of regencies/cities throughout Bali and the interns.

In his remarks, Bali Regional Secretary Dewa Made Indra expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Manpower, the Japanese Government, and AP2LN (Indonesian Institute of International Cooperation) for their continued synergy in providing internship opportunities for young Balinese and Indonesians. "On behalf of the Bali Provincial Government, we express our gratitude to all parties who continue to strive to create jobs, provide protection, and improve the welfare of workers," he said. 

Regional Secretary Dewa Indra advised the interns to make the most of this opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and real-world work experience. He emphasized three important points for the participants: maintaining discipline and work ethic, respecting Japanese rules and culture, and upholding the good name of Bali and Indonesia throughout the program. "You come to Japan as ambassadors of your nation. Maintain the honor of yourselves, your region, and your country. Carry out your internship seriously, as you are still being assessed until you graduate with certification," he emphasized.

He also asked AP2LN to continue monitoring and maintaining the presence of interns in Japan, and to improve coordination if any issues arise, in order to maintain good relations between local governments, the Ministry of Manpower, and the Japanese government. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Manpower Prof. Yassierli stated that the overseas internship program is part of the government's efforts to expand employment opportunities and improve the quality of Indonesia's human resources.

"Today we are sending off 2,183 Indonesian ambassadors to Japan. Your faces are the faces of Indonesia's successful future," he said.

 Prof. Yassierli also emphasized the importance of the STAR attitudes for the interns: Courteous, Resilient, Adaptive, and Diligent.

 "Politeness and hospitality are hallmarks of the Indonesian people. In Japan, you must be resilient, persistent, adaptable to new environments, and diligent in learning new things," he said

He explained that the government continues to strengthen domestic and international internship programs, with a target of 100,000 domestic interns for bachelor's and diploma graduates, as well as increasing the number of international interns to 100,000 per year.

"Internships aren't just about pocket money, but about improving skills and preparing for the real world of work," he added.

 AP2LN Chairman Firman Budiyanto stated that the intern send-off is an annual event, starting from Regional Representative Council (DPW) I to Regional Representative Council (DPW) V in Bali and Eastern Indonesia. This year, the number of interns sent off reached 2,183, exceeding the initial target of 2,000.

"We are proud that our determination and confidence are fully supported by the Ministry of Manpower. AP2LN will remain committed to maintaining the quality of training and strengthening synergies with partner institutions in Japan," he said. 

Through this internship program, it is hoped that participants will strengthen their character, enhance their skills, and become agents of change who will bring goodwill to the nation on the international stage. (Rls/Btnc)