The Embassy of Malaysia and the Embassy of Indonesia in Ukraine took the lead to organise the inaugural ASIAN FOOD AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2013held on Saturday, 12 October 2013 at The Contemporary Art Center (M-17), Kyiv from noon to 1700 hours. Four other Asian Embassies in Ukraine joined the Festival, namely India, Japan, Pakistan and South Korea. A local NGO, International Foundation for Cultural Cooperation (IFCC) also lent its support. All proceeds from the festival would go to charitable causes.
The festival successfully achieved its aim to promote and strengthen the awareness and richness of Asian cultural and culinary diversity among the Ukrainian community. This inter-cultural link,in turn,contributed positively towards enhancing stronger people-to-people contacts, closer socio-cultural understanding and wider cooperation between Asian countries and Ukraine.
All 6 Asian Embassies proudly showcased their various traditional culinary specialities, cooking demonstration, popular cultural dance and musical demonstrations, interesting cultural arts and crafts and also other visual arts, such as tourism promotional documentaries and award winning movies. Lottery draws were also organised with many exciting prizes sponsored by the various friends of Asia.
The staff of the Embassy of Malaysia wore traditional Batik Baju Kurung. Malaysian culinary served were Fried Meehoon, Curry Puff, Seri Muka, KekPisang, Onde-Onde, and TehTarik. Malaysian natural health products and supplements were also displayed. To promote Malaysia further, brochures on Tourism Malaysia were also distributed besides the screening of the tourism promotional videos. A demonstration of TehTarik was also performed as an interactive activity.
About 1,000 patrons thronged the fiesta. It was an unforgettable afternoon for many Ukrainians as it was the first time they were able to immerse, enjoy, savour and appreciate the full range of diversity and uniqueness of the Asian rich traditional and cultural heritages.
