Page 29 - Inzist Special Edition

TO ROVE,

TO ELEVATE

In January 2020, President Joko Widodo appointed me as the first Indonesian Roving Ambassador to the
Pacific which marks a new chapter in the ever-growing relations between Indonesia and fellow countries
in the region. The new nomenclature carries immense significance to Indonesia’s commitment in
advancing its contribution to the betterment of the region both in conceptual and practical contexts.

To be tasked with a duty on that grand scale and magnitude, without a shadow of a doubt, the sense of
responsibility and obligation are palpable. At the same time, I am thankful as it provides a further platform
to devote myself even further to the heart of the Pacific-related discussions.
In a nutshell, as a Roving Ambassador or in other words Indonesian Government Special Envoy to the
Pacific, maintenance and promotion of political, commercial, and cultural relations with countries in the
region has always been top of the agenda. Through the Pacific Exposition initiative, the role has allowed
me to commit even further in our common endeavor to expand access markets for products and services
from Indonesia to the Pacific and vice versa.
It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Indonesia Roving Ambassador to the Pacific. This is a concrete
step following the launch of Indonesia’s Pacific Elevation concept by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Her
Excellency Retno Marsudi, during the 1st Pacific Exposition in Auckland in 2019.

It is a conviction in Indonesia’s unyielding efforts to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic,
political, and people-to-people links with countries and territories in the region.

H.E Henry Puna
Secretary General of Pacific Islands Forum