She is Honorary Member of INBC and former Ambassador to Norway. Ibu Retno will soon leave Jakarta to take up a diplomatic posting abroad.
At the gathering Ambassador Homme announced that His Majesty the King of Norway has decided to bestow on Director General Retno Masurdi the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, with the class of Grand Officer.
In his speech before presenting her the Order and Diploma, Ambassador Homme stated that it was conferred to Ibu Retno as a reward for “outstanding services towards strengthening the relations and cooperation between our two countries.” He told that she would be the very first Indonesian diplomat to receive such an order, and would receive the second highest class of the Order. The Ambassador also said that during her time in Norway, and afterwards in Jakarta, the bilateral relations where brought to a whole new level, including visit of President Yudhoyono to Norway in 2006, the Norwegian Prime Minister coming twice to Indonesia in 2007 the President returning to Oslo in 2010 to sign the LoI on REDD+. These visits lead to increased cooperation within climate and energy, democracy and human rights, on a number of international political issues, as well as an increase in our economic and business cooperation. The Ambassador said that Ibu Retno had worked hard to support these developments; being one who sees opportunities, takes initiatives, quickly follow-up and delivers on all promises. He also said Ibu Retno was blessed with great stamina and a wonderful family as her strong, loving and dedicated support team.
In her warm thank you speech Director General Retno said she felt really surprised and highly honoured to receive this award from the King of Norway. She also dedicated the honour to the staff she had at the Embassy in Oslo and her supportive husband and family.