Indonesia’s New Cabinet: Aim for Great Economy
Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s new cabinet is taking shape. Today’s announcement of Indonesia’s new cabinet shows its new economy ambition.
The President just gets its second and final five-year term in office. He stated on Monday that he will put the world’s fourth most populous country on the way to be a $7 trillion economy by the end of 2045.
The cabinets full of technocrats
To achieve the new economic plan, many expected Mr. Joko to include many technocrats, industrialist and key opposition figures.
The technocrats within the cabinet include Nadiem Makarim (the chief executive of Indonesia payment and ride-hailing firm), Erick Tohir (the chairman of media business Mahaka Media), and Wishnutama (the co-founder and chief executive of NET. Mediatama Televisi).
Previously, many expected Nadiem Makarim to be the new digital economy ministry. However, today’s announcement shocks everyone, when Mr. Joko announces that the former chief executive of Go-Jek will be the new education minister.
Mr. Joko also adds that Indonesia awaits for a new innovative education system from young and brilliant professionals.
Meanwhile, in the Go-Jek headquarter, its president, Andre Soelistyo, and its founder, Kevin Aluwi would take over the leadership of the $10 billion unicorns.
At the same time, Indonesia’s billionaire businessman, Erick Tohir also named Indonesia’s new state-owned enterprise minister. Erick has promised to step down from Mahaka Media, once he gets the position. Previously, Erick has also led the organizing team of Indonesia Asian Games, last year.
The next technocrat in the new cabinet is Wishnutama. The former CEO of NET. Mediatama Televisi becomes the new tourism minister.
The Expected Innovation
Indonesian expects those young technocrats to bring fresh innovative solutions to the country’s economic growth.
Many analysts give a warm welcome to the appointments of those young technocrats. They believe that too many political people within a cabinet will undermine its effectiveness.
Moreover, analysists also expect these young technocrats to support Mr. Joko’s policies which will still focus on building the countries’ infrastructure. In the long run, he still aims to bring Indonesia to grow as the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
The new education, state-owned enterprises, and tourism ministers are also expected to realize the country’s short term goal to improve the country’s education and encourage investment.
Those two things will, in the end, create jobs for the youthful population of 260 million people.
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