JAKARTA, Oct 23 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, today (Wednesday) announced cabinet ministers, attorney general and head of investment board, for the new cabinet of his second five-year term in office.
Former rival during presidential race and former general, Prabowo Subianto, who secured a 44.5 percent vote during the Apr 17 presidential polls was included in the cabinet as defence minister.
The cabinet comprised 34 ministers, with several ministers at his previous term in office retained, including former Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati and former Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi.
Former Industry Minister, Airlangga Hartarto, was appointed chief economic minister and Agus Suparmanto, as trade minister.
The president made a breakthrough by appointing 35-year-old businessman, Nadiem Makarim, as education and culture minister. He is a founder and former head of Gojek, a motorcycle ride-hailing phone service.
Erick Thohir, a former media businessman, who chaired the organising committee of the 2018 Asian Games and campaign team for the president, during the presidential race this year, was appointed as state enterprises minister.
A media owner of Net Mediatama television, Wishnutama Kusubandio, was picked up as tourism and creative economy minister.
Widodo said after the swearing-in of the ministers at the State Palace that, the major target of this cabinet was to narrow current account deficit, and swing trade deficit to surplus, creating new jobs and lure investment.
Subdued exports, investment and relatively stable consumption, amid the country’s weakening economic activities during the global economic uncertainty, terrorism, seismic corruption and insurgency, are among the major challenges facing the president in his new term.– NNN-ANTARA