The Swedish government has conferred a royal honor on noted businessman Sofjan Wanandi for his contribution to fostering trade and investment between Sweden and Indonesia.

The Order of the Polar Star was presented to Sofjan by Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Johanna Brismar Skoog at the ambassadorial residence in South Jakarta on Thursday.

She said Sofjan had been very helpful to Swedish businesses entering the Indonesian market by providing his time, wisdom and experience. “We struggled with access because we are not the [United States] or [the United Kingdom],” she said. “To have someone that we can count on is extremely useful.”

The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by then King Frederick I in February 1748. The order was intended as a reward for Swedes and foreigners for civic merit and for devotion to duty, science, literature and other useful works, but since 1975 the order is only awarded to foreigners and members of the royal family.

The medal was initially planned to be presented by King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden during his official visit to Indonesia last year, but at that time Sofjan was not available because he had to attend his first grandson’s graduation. Other recipients, Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy chairman for international relations, and Abdullah Fawzy Siddik, a businessman, received their medalsfrom the king during his visit.

In his speech at the ceremony, Sofjan said in the beginning he has had close relations with Sweden for more than 30 years.

”When I was the chairman of Apindo [Indonesian Employers Association], Sweden was trying to do some things for us that many people may not know,” he said, adding that Swedish companies had provided training and expertise to small and medium enterprises, among other things.

The ceremony was attended by a number of Indonesian businessmen including Kadin chairman Rosan P. Roeslani and Apindo chairman Hariyadi B. Sukamdani. It was also attended by Vice Chair of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Foundation Clara Joewono and Nezar Patria, chief editor of The Jakarta Post.

However, more importantly, as Sofjan had noted, the ceremony was attended by his family members, including his wife Riantini S. Wanandi, brothers Jusuf, Biantoro and Rudy as well as his sons and grandsons.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said Sofjan not only contributed to the Swedish government but to the country as well.

“In the next year the government is pushing a vocational training program,” he said. “I think the experience of Sweden in technical and other vocational training can help the young generation in Indonesia.”

The award from the Swedish government was not the first foreign compliment given to Sofjan.

In her official visit to Jakarta in 2016, Princes Astrid of Belgium made Sofjan Wanandi a Commander of the Order of the Crown to honor his contribution to strengthening bilateral commercial and industrial ties.

The year before, Sofjan was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Stars by the Emperor of Japan, for his achievements in improving the Indonesian investment climate for both Japanese and local companies.

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