Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front, sixth, left) and members of his new cabinet pose for a photo on October 23 (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – IndonesianPresident Joko Widodo on October 23 announced a new Cabinet for his second and final five-year term in office from 2019 -2024.
Widodo has appointed formerIndustry Minister Airlangga Hartarto as Coordinating Economic Minister and retained economist SriMulyani Indrawati as Finance Minister.
Prabowo Subianto, oppositionleader in Widodo’s first term and sole challenger in the April election, hasbeen named Defence Minister.
Indonesianride-hailing and online payment firm Gojek co-founder and CEO Nadiem Makarim has been chosen to serve as Culture andEducation Minister while Arifin Tasrif, who used to lead a state-owned fertiliser maker, has been selected as Energyand Mineral Resources Minister.
The president'slong-term ally Luhut Pandjaitan meanwhile retained his role as Coordinating Minister forMaritime Affairs, who also oversees the natural resources sector andinvestment.
On October20, President Joko Widodo was officially sworn in for his second term with apledge to take bolder actions in infrastructure development.
He haspledged to invest heavily in infrastructure, and develop tourism andagriculture hubs which connect sea ports and airports nationwide.
He said hisGovernment will focus on improving the country’s human resources in the contextthat Indonesia is lagging behind neighbouring countries in terms of skilledworkers.
In addition,he committed to rolling out red carpet to both domestic and foreign investors,considering them as important sources to create more jobs in the country.
He pointedout that corruption and group interest are the main barriers to the foreigncapital flow into the Indonesian economy./.
VNA
