AmCham Indonesia Hosts “Breakfast for Barack” event for U.S. Presidential Inauguration 2009
January 21, 2009
Over 150 members and guests attend the Breakfast for Barack event at the Grand Ballroom at the JW Marriott Jakarta.
(Copyright AmCham Indonesia)
From the Q1 2009 Edition of The Executive Exchange magazine:
On the morning of January 21, 2009, AmCham Indonesia hosted “Breakfast for Barack”, an event celebrating the historic U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, at the ballroom in the JW Marriott Jakarta. Over 150 AmCham members and guests including those from AWA (American Women’s Association of Indonesia), KIKAS (Kadin Indonesia Komite Amerika Serikat), PPIA (Indonesian-American Friendship Society) and the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia attended the festive event.Guests were invited to come early to enjoy a continental breakfast and mingle with a diverse crowd of Indonesians, Americans and expats of other nationalities.
After an introduction by AmCham Indonesia Board of Governor James Castle, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume opened with remarks on the history and significance of Barack Obama’s ascension to the highest post in the U.S.
A time-delayed replay of the ceremony in Washington, D.C. was shown on two large projector screens to the seated audience. Warm applause for the Jakarta-educated Obama at key moments during the Inauguration was the norm throughout the half-hour viewing.
For many attendees, this was their first viewing of the Inauguration. The event was designed to attract those who did not to attend other Inauguration parties across town the night before and those who did not to stay up for the live broadcast of the ceremony and swearing-in that was scheduled at midnight, local time.
Following the video replay, Arifin Siregar, former Indonesian ambassador to the U.S., and Jusuf Wanandi, Chairman of the Indonesia Center for Strategic and International Studies, joined Castle, founder of CastleAsia, on the stage for a one-hour panel discussion on U.S.-Indonesia relations under an Obama administration. Board of Governor Andy Cobham moderated the discussion and directed questions from the active audience.
At the event’s conclusion, Ambassador Hume provided closing remarks to the panelists and audience. AmCham Indonesia would like to thank Board of Governors Arian Ardie, James Castle and Andy Cobham; guest organizations; and panel participants for their assistance with the event.
(Photo of Obama swearing in, Copyright AP 2009.)
Attendees watch a replay of Barack Obama be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on a giant projection screen.
(Copyright AmCham Indonesia)
(Left-to-Right) Panelist Arifin Siregar former Indonesian ambassador to the U.S.; Moderator Andrew Cobham, AmCham Indonesia Board of Governor; Jusuf Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesia CSIS; and Panelist James Castle , AmCham Indonesia Board of Governor and founder of CastleAsia
(Copyright AmCham Indonesia)
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume (L) gives closing remarks after panelists spoke.
(Copyright AmCham Indonesia)