Visitors to PIK Avenue (Pantai Indah Kapuk Avenue) mall in North Jakarta can witness the arrival of spring at the Polska Festival. Spring is an important season for Polish people after the long cold winter.

The festival, held from March 18 to 24, promotes Polish products, culture and cuisine. In the main lobby of the mall, booths are lined up side by side, exhibiting various products, such as food and beverages, cosmetics and jewelry, among other things.

“This is the biggest festival in Indonesia,” said Polish Investment and Trade Agency Jakarta representative Cezary Filipek.

The week-long festival also celebrates Polish culture through a number of events, such as Polish bridal shows, live cooking demonstrations and film screenings. At the festival, visitors can taste Polish cuisine imported directly from Poland. Among the food products are Polish barbecued meats, craft beer and pierogi (traditional Polish dumplings).

Polish touch: A visitor examines a ceramic tea pot at the Polska Festival in PIK Avenue in North Jakarta on Wednesday. The festival will be held until Sunday. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

The film screenings include Polish films with English subtitles, such as Squadron 303 about aerial combat during World War II and Gods about the first successful heart transplant in Poland.

The festival aimed to promote Polish culture and business to expand economic cooperation between Indonesia and Poland, said Polish Ambassador to Indonesia Beata Stoczinska during a press conference on Tuesday.

“People naturally go for business cooperation when both countries know each other culturally and historically,” said Stoczinska.

Polish technology companies are also showcasing their products at the event. As the use of digital wallets had blossomed in Indonesia, Poland could offer its technology to support President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s goal to advance the digital economy, said Polish Investment and Trade Agency Jakarta head Jacek Kołomyjec.

“Indonesia and Poland have a long history in engineering and technological products, which actually enhances business relations through more trade,” Kołomyjec added.

Partnership: Polish Ambassador to Indonesia Beata Stoczyńska (left) and West Java Legislative Council (DPRD) member Sjahrir (right) pose for a photograph at dinner during the Polska Festival. (Courtesy of Embassy of Poland, Jakarta)

The festival also features PolskaTech Days in which Polish and Indonesian technology companies will pitch and offer business solutions.

Additionally, the Polska Festival also features three Polish art exhibitions. Polish artist Michal Rygielski’s graphic art exhibition Indonesian dreams will showcase his works inspired by Indonesia. Rygielski, who teaches in the school of fine arts at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland, visited Indonesia 10 years ago. During his one-year trip, he explored many travel destinations, including famous mountains in Indonesia.

A second exhibition showcases photographs of Poland. The works will be auctioned with the proceeds to be donated to a children’s charity organization in Weluli, Timor, East Nusa Tenggara.

The third exhibition displays the works of a renowned Polish poster school. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Polish poster artists created works with vibrant colors and humor.