Jakarta. Financing firm PNM in partnership with the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry will host a contemporary jamu competition.

Jamu is an Indonesian herbal drink, and the Herb Euphoria Fest is asking its participants to give it a modern twist. This competition will take place in Sarinah, Jakarta on June 22, and at Bali’s Living World Mall on June 29. The competition is open to anyone who is aged between 17 and 45 years old and has the basic knowledge to make traditional jamu. The first place will get a cash prize of Rp 5 million. The second place will take home Rp 3 million, while there is a Rp 2 million prize waiting for the participants to rank in third place. Those who have participated in Jakarta cannot take part in the competition in Bali.

According to PNM president director Arief Mulyadi, the company already launched what it calls the “business capacity development” program in which the participants took part in comparative studies and training for jamu making. Arief said that such competition could help promote jamu, while also encouraging people to develop this herbal drink using technological innovations.

“We truly have abundant resources spread in 26 provinces outside Java, as there are 24,927 plants with medicinal properties and 13,665 types of traditional herbs. This has huge potential for social and economic development,” Arief said.

Arief also encouraged us to be proud of jamu and see it as a cultural treasure in Indonesia.  "Let's make herbal medicine a good ‘host’ in our own country and even a great guest in other countries," Arief said.