By Anton Lutter.
Last week at the presidential palace president Joko Widodo appointed 20 new ambassadors including to The Netherlands.
His Excellency Bapak Mayerfas will be the new ambassador which includes also to the OPCW. He will replace the popular I Gusti A. Wesaka Puja who served his country between 15 February 2015 – 26 June 2020. Before leaving our country, ambassador Puja received the Knights-Grandcross in the Order of Orange-Nassau from His Majesty King Willem-Alexander.
Ambassador Puja has been a strong promotor of friendship and trade between Indonesia and The Netherlands, which is of great importance considering the historic ties which binds us with more than 1 million persons living in The Netherlands with roots in Indonesia.
Before being appointed ambassador Bapak Mayerfas – 60 years of age – was secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Jakarta. Earlier he was ambassador to Vietnam and previously deputy-chief of mission at Bejing. Born in Padangpanjang on the island of Sumatra he later studied International Relations at Padjadjaran University at Bandung.
He’s married, with two children. Building on the best diplomatic traditions since Indonesia’s independence Ambassador Mayerfas will strengthen relations between The Netherlands and Indonesia.