The Pakistani community Culinary Forum in Doha hosted a warm farewell breakfast in honor of HE Ridwan Hassan, outgoing envoy of the world's largest Muslim populated country -Indonesia, marking the conclusion of his five-year diplomatic tenure in the country. The event reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect between both the nations.

The Forum's traditional breakfast was attended by several distinguished diplomats including HE Muhammad Aamer, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Pakistan; HE Badreddin Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed, ambassador of Sudan; HE Mohamed  Bahrin Abu Bakr, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam and Dean of ASEAN Ambassadors in Qatar;   HE Salah Khaled, Regional Director of UNESCO for the Gulf and Yemen, alongwith prominent Pakistani professionals and business community members.

In his farewell address, Ambassador Ridwan Hassan shared reflections on his time in Doha, describing it as a period marked by hope, resilience, and positive transformation. He noted that Qatar witnessed several significant global milestones during his tenure, including major international conferences, sports and cultural events. He highlighted the Qatar Indonesia Year of Culture as a landmark achievement, widely regarded as one of the most successful cultural exchange programs to date.

The Ambassador recalled that one of his earliest encounters in Doha was with Mr. Ashraf Siddiqui, senior journalist,(The founder of the Community Culinary Diplomacy Forum) who provided extensive coverage of Indonesian news and cultural initiatives throughout his tenure. He emphasized the important role of Mr. Siddiqui as a journalist in strengthening bilateral and people-to-people relations through responsible reporting.

Ambassador Ridwan Hassan expressed appreciation for the consistent support extended by media professionals in highlighting positive stories not only about Indonesia but also about the diverse communities living in Qatar.

He also spoke warmly about his close association with the Pakistani community, describing it as a meaningful and enriching part of his diplomatic experience.

Ambassador Ridwan Hassan stressed that the occasion should not be viewed as a farewell but as a continuation of enduring relationships. He reaffirmed that the doors of Indonesia remain open to friends and well-wishers and expressed confidence that the bonds formed in Doha would continue to grow in the future.

In his closing remarks, outgoing ambassador paid his gratitude to the leadership, officials and the people of State of Qatar on their generous traditional hospitality and support at every step throughout his tenure meeting his official responsibilities.

He also thanked his vibrant community of their love, support to him and strengthening bilateral relations between both the countries through their attitude and their hard work.

Earlier, Senior Cardiologist Dr Shahid Imran  representing the community, welcomed the guests. He expressed his gratitude to the Chief Guest and other Excellencies for accepting the invitation. In his remarks, he highlighted the decades-long cold war and the war against terrorism in South East Asia, and severe security and economic challenges confronting Pakistan. He stated that these trials have served to unite the nation and strengthen its defence capabilities significantly.

Paying vote of thanks, the founder of the Community Culinary Diplomacy Forum, Ashraf Siddiqui paid tribute to Ambassador Ridwan Hassan’schallenges contributions to cultural diplomacy and bilateral relations. He thanked the outgoing Ambassador for his openness, professionalism, and friendship and wished him continued success in his future endeavors.