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Belgium bestows high honors on RI citizens
Belgian aides: Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Patrick Herman (left) poses with three newly named Commanders of the Order of Leopold — (second left to right) Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rosan Roeslani, Indonesian Employer Association vice chairwoman Shinta Kamndani and former industry minister Saleh Husin — at the ambassador’s residence in Jakarta on Wednesday
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span class="inline inline-center">Belgian aides: Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Patrick Herman (left) poses with three newly named Commanders of the Order of Leopold — (second left to right) Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rosan Roeslani, Indonesian Employer Association vice chairwoman Shinta Kamndani and former industry minister Saleh Husin — at the ambassador’s residence in Jakarta on Wednesday. Former Indonesian ambassador to Belgium Arif Hava Oegroseno, who was also named to the order, could not attend the event.(JP/Ricky Yudhistira)
The government of Belgium has conferred honors upon three prominent Indonesians who have greatly contributed to enhancing Belgium’s trade and industrial relations with Indonesia.
Former industry minister Saleh Husin, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rosan Roeslani and Shinta W. Kamdani, deputy chair of the Indonesian Employers Association were named Commanders of the Order of Leopold.
Membership in the Order of Leopold was first granted by the monarch in 1832 to Belgian knights and military generals who had provided great service to their country. It was only a century ago the same decoration was afforded to non-Belgians who made extraordinary contributions.
The trio of business players were deemed worthy of one of Belgium’s highest honors by King Philippe for their services in promoting Belgium during one of the visits of Belgian royalty to Indonesia, Ambassador Patrick Herman said. Princess Astrid, the younger sister of the Belgian monarch, led her country’s fifth and biggest economic mission to Indonesia last March for a week-long visit. The princess was apparently so impressed with the work of the trio that the news reached the Royal Palace of Brussels, Herman said during the ceremony at his Central Jakarta residence late on Wednesday.
“You were the three who were there to greet Princess Astrid when she was here,” he said.
The Belgian envoy commended the three for their assistance in ensuring that for the past three years Belgian events in Indonesia were successful. For instance, Herman underlined the role that Shinta played in organizing a women-focused CEO forum during Princess Astrid’s visit, which the monarch commended.
“Princess Astrid was very keen on women empowerment and the development of women in business — it was a very fruitful conversation [with her, as] we had to select women from different sectors and that was really special,” Shinta told The Jakarta Post.
Herman led the naming of the commanders in full knowledge that both Rosan and Shinta would likely be present when vice president Jusuf Kalla leaves for Brussels next month to represent the country in high-level bilateral and multilateral talks, which coincides with Belgium’s hosting of the biannual Europalia Arts Festival 2017. Indonesia is to be the fourth Asian country and the first in Southeast Asia to be the guest of honor of Europalia, which was first established in 1969.
“We will have MoUs [memorandums of understanding] signed; it will not be as many as when [Princess Astrid] visited here, but there are a few agreements to be signed,” she added, saying that the maritime sector will remain a priority area.
