interview www.bahrainthismonth.com 16 October 2022 AN OUTSTANDING AMBASSADOR The Kingdom of Bahrain and Republic of Indonesia have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1984. The Indonesian community in Bahrain now consists of 5000 people while trade relations, too, have diversified over the years. Bahrain This Month speaks to the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Ardi Hermawan who enlightens us on current trade figures, potential commercial collaborations, and more. Your excellency, could you tell our readers about yourself and your life growing up in Indonesia? I was born in Padang, West Sumatera, but I spent my youth in Surabaya, East Java. I met my wife and now we are blessed with three daughters and two grandchildren. Since then, we lived in Jakarta. Being a government official is no stranger to me. My father worked as a civil servant and always moved from one city to another in Indonesia. None of my daughters follow my path career, though; two of them are working for start-up companies and the youngest is working for a British consultant. What does it take to become an ambassador? Can you give us an overview of your diplomatic missions to date? I earned my BA in International Relations at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya following which I pursued my postgraduate in Australia, Diploma at the Australian National University, and Masters from the Monash University. My first diplomatic service was at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris from 1994 to 1998, then at the Embassy in Budapest from 2001 to 2005, and Tokyo from 2008 to 2011 where I became the Deputy Chief of Mission. After that, I served as Indonesian Consul General in San Francisco from 2014 to 2017. Prior to holding my post here in Bahrain, I was assigned to the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia for three years, from 2018 to 2021, first as the Director of Asia Pacific Tourism Marketing and then as the Director of Investment Management. I started and spent most of my career for 35 years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2021, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated 17 extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors (LBBP RI) at the state palace. How did you feel being among those honoured? I felt proud and honoured as I believe being an ambassador is the golden achievement for every diplomat. Yet, at the same time, I felt humbled. I realised I could not get to this position today without the support of those close to me, my family, and my previous teams - whether it be the one in Jakarta or at the Embassies and Consulates. To me, being an ambassador is not only an assignment but an Amanah (a trust) from the President that has to be returned through the benefit of the people of Indonesia in Bahrain.
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