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3rd LD Writethru: Indonesian president reshuffles cabinet to speed up GDP growth

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet as the Southeast Asia's largest economy aims to speed up subdued economic growth.

Three coordinated ministerial posts, two ministerial posts, and cabinet secretary post were reshuffled.

President Jokowi, the popular name of the president, picked up (retired) general Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, former presidential chief of staff as security chief minister, replacing Tedjo Edhy Purdjiatno.

Luhut was also former Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore.

President Jokowi appointed Darmin Nasution, former central bank governor as economic chief minister, replacing Sofyan Djalil.

Nasution was also former director general of tax office of the finance ministry.

The president picked up Rizal Ramli, a former activist and economic chief minister, as coordinating minister for maritime, replacing Indroyono Soesilo.

Rizal was also former finance minister, head of leading advisory group in economy, trade and industry, the ECONIT, and head of state logistic agency.

Thomas Trikasih Lembong, a successful businessman who has experiences in trade, replaced Rahmad Gobel as trade minister.

Lembong is a co-founder, CEO and managing director of one of Indonesia's leading investment firms, Quvat Capital.

Sofyan Djalil, former economic chief minister, was picked up as head of development planning body, replacing Andrinof Chaniago.

Pramono Anung, a senior politician at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, was picked up as new cabinet secretary, replacing Andi Widjajanto.

The reshuffle is made amid pressure to boost the economic growth which has been the slowest in six years at the first and second quarters, respectively at 4.71 and 4.67 percent.

President Jokowi insists on speeding up massive infrastructure development and gives priority to smooth sea transport as main transport facility at the archipelago country to speed up goods and services movement in part to cut prices.

He has freed funds for infrastructure development by cutting fuel subsidies and travelling budget for officials.

President Jokowi, who came into office on Oct. 20, has set a target of above 7 percent GDP growth by the end of his five-year term. Endi