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Published by President University /// Display until June 12, 2010 /// N0. 12
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ON SRI MULYANI’S RESIGNATION TO JOIN THE WORLD BANK Chairman of the Constitutionsal Court) Mahfud MD: “I empathize with her; I would have done the same if I were her.”
John Prasetio, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin): “This is a very positive thing, we Indonesians have to be proud and welcome this move. I think she will also continue to help develop our economy.”
Golkar Party Vice Chairman Priyo Budi Santoso: “It’s a win-win solution, it is also sort of an escape clause.”
Peter Fanning, the chairman of the International Business Chamber: “Her departure is a step backward. The business community will be disappointed, but there are many good people who can replace her.
American business consultant James Castle: “A pleasant surprise. Her commitment to reform would be missed. I think it’s great for her and good for Indonesia to have someone in that position.”
Sri “Iron Lady” Mulyani: Indonesia’s Brilliant Reformer The architect of ongoing and sweeping bureaucratic and financial reforms in recent years, Mulyani has earned a reputation as an “Iron Lady” for her strong resolve.
In announcing the appointment of Sri Mulyani Indrawati as Managing Director of the World Bank Group, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said that as Indonesia’s Minister of Finance since 2005, Ms. Indrawati has guided economic policy for one of the biggest states in the world, navigating successfully in
the midst of the global economic crisis, implementing key reforms, and earning the respect of her peers across the world. “She has been an outstanding Finance Minister with in-depth knowledge of both development issues and the role of the World Bank Group,” Zoellick said. “As a member of the Senior Team she will play a key role in helping to lead the Bank as we move to strengthen client support, implement our reform program, and anticipate future challenges.” Prior to her position as finance minister, Mulyani served as state minister and chair of the Indonesian National Development Planning Agency. During 20082009, she served as coordinating minister of economic affairs, and in 2002-2004 she was an executive director on the Board of the IMF. She has been on the faculty of the University of Indonesia and was a visiting professor at the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University. In accepting the appointment Mulyani said: “It is a great honour for me and also for my country to have this opportunity to contribute to the very important mission of the Bank in changing the world.” “Ms. Indrawati brings a unique set of skills and experience to the World Bank Group, from the vantage point of an advancing Middle-Income country that still faces significant challenges of poverty,” says Zoellick. “She has received global recognition for her success in combating corruption and strengthening good governance,” Zoellick noted. “She has been a leader in the developing world on climate change, and active in the international arena through the G-20, APEC, ASEAN and other groups.” Mulyani earned a Ph.D. in
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ndonesia is an important market in a global economy. Its projected GDP growth is 7% by 2011. It will soon join BRIC, and we are an enabler in accelerating economic growth.
Thanks to Indonesia`s positive economic stability which was supported by capital inflow, increase in foreign exchange, rupiah appreciation, strengthening of stocks index and positive investors` perception.
Garuda Indonesia’s debts fully paid off in 2016
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JAKARTA (TPP) – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati’s sudden – and dramatic – move to assume a high ecehelon position at the World Bank lends prestige to Indonesia’s international standing. The architect of ongoing and sweeping bureaucratic and financial reforms in recent years, Mulyani has earned a reputation as an “Iron Lady” for her strong resolve. The score of reactions to her resignation underscores the remarkable impact she has had in recent years. She is credited for guiding the country through the global economic meltdown and helping forge its current push into the elite ranks of top-tier emerging economies. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono praised her, saying “we are losing one of our best ministers.” “Her position at the World Bank is strategic and honorable. I agree to Sri Mulyani’s request to be the World Bank’s managing director,” Yudhoyono added. “Sri Mulyani has worked hard to develop fiscal policies and conduct a number of reforms in her respective field”.
one of the commission deputy chairmen, Achsanul Qosasi from the Democratic Party. Numerous names such as Anggito Abimanyu, Agus Martowardoyo and Darmin Nasution have been touted as the possible successor of Mulyani. Anggito is the head of the fiscal policy at the Finance Ministry and has been appointed the deputy finance minister. Agus Martowardoyo is president director of Bank Mandiri, while Darmin is the acting Bank Indonesia governor and former tax office chief under Mulyani. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa is the acting finance minister before the president appoints a permanent replacement.
Legislators at the House of Representatives Commission XI on Finance and Banking say that her replacement must display the same commitment, integrity and capacity. “Her replacement must have both high integrity and guts. As the treasurer of the nation, the finance minister is the bastion that bridges the interests among the government, the people, businesspeople and investors,” says
Mulyani’s decision to move to Washington was carefully monitored by foreign investors, who are big buyers of Indonesian assets in the past 18 months, driving a surge in local stocks, bonds and the rupiah. They have been largely attracted by the pace of reform and liberalization in the region’s largest economy, and the prospect of a surge in demand for its resources including timber, palm oil and coal. Foreign investors have bought a net Rp 40 trillion ($4.4 billion) in government bonds this year, double the purchases all of last year, taking their net holdings to a record Rp 148 trillion, representing 24.6 percent of all outstanding government debt. Indonesia’s resilience throughout the 2008-2009 global financial crisis has shown that macroeconomic and fiscal policy is on a
INTERVIEW
firm footing thanks to the sound policies of technocrats including Mulyani and Vice President Boediono, the former central bank governor. Inflation remains tame and interest rates are at a record low of 6.5 percent. Economic growth was also expected to be 5.7 percent this year and as much as 6.3 percent in 2011, Mulyani said last month. Prospects for an investment grade rating are probably unchanged. Indonesia is expected to achieve an investment grade credit rating within the next three years. That would make the country in the same league with BRIC nations — the top emerging market investment destinations of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Prospects for that upgrade should not be affected by Mulyani’s move, although there may be concerns about the future of civil service and other reforms. With Mulyani in such a highprofile position, Indonesia could benefit further from rising international recognition of its potential, particularly as a G-20 member and a country that is widely expected to join the emerging market elite. Joachim von Amsberg, World Bank country manager for Indonesia, said that “reforms are embedded in government in the overall leadership of the country. I think they are no longer dependent on a single person. That’s why we are quite confident that I think Indonesia will continue to do well.”
The debts consisted of US$320 million owed to the London-based Export Credit Agency (ECA), US$131 million to Floating Rates Notes (FRN) of creditors in Singapore, and US$105 million to PT Pertamina and Angkasa Pura I and II.
Once the 1960 law is revised the international business community will see many multinational companies rewriting their relocation strategies with an eye on Indonesia.
Economics from the University of Illinois and a BA in Economics from the University of Indonesia. She has received numerous honors and awards, including Euromoney Magazine’s Global Finance Minister of the Year, and Emerging Markets’ Best Finance Minister in Asia. She has also been regularly on Forbes’ List of the 100 Most Powerful Women. In her new role Mulyani will supervise Latin America and Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific. She will also oversee the Information Systems Group.
The appointment follows an international search process. Mulyani will join the Bank on June 1, enabling a transition period with Juan Jose Daboub who completes his four year term as Managing Director on June 30. Economist Dradjad Wibowo from the coalition-aligned National Mandate Party (PAN) welcome the appointment, saying it was a great honor for Indonesia politically and economically. “I support Sri Mulyani to be the World Bank’s managing director,” Dradjad said, adding that there were many candidates that were capable of replacing her.
Meanwhile, Finance Ministry inspector general Hekinus Manao said the ministry remained determined to continue the reform process. Says Democratic Party lawmaker Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin: “We should all be proud of her.” Even the Golkar Party, which led the charge against her in the House, wished her well, with House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso saying Golkar appreciated the move because it was a “prestigious position” that would allow her to pursue policies that would favor Indonesia.
Mari: Renegotiating ACFTA a Burden, Too Costly
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rade Minister Mari Pangestu said the government had opted for “special talks” with China on the AseanChina Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) as renegotiating the accord calls for payment of huge compensations and the involvement of other Asean member countries. Speaking at a meeting with the House Commission VI here late last month the minister said the government had made efforts to allay public worries that ACFTA would lead national industrial products becoming less competitive in domestic markets, including conducting special talks with the Chinese government. In a press statement, she also said that there were options of postponing the implementation of the ACFTA and renegotiating, particularly 228 tariff items on which Indonesia feared it would lose the competition with Chinese products. “The option taken is to hold special talks with the Chinese government because renegotiating the agreement will be costly, as Indonesia must then pay huge amounts of compensation and also involve other Asean member countries,” she said. The option of special talks was more comprehensive and not only limited to the question of 228 tarif items and as such is considered more bene-
ficial, she added. She went on to say that if the government chose renegotiations, the option must be done in line with articles in the ACFTA. According to Article 6 of the ACFTA Indonesia must increase the compensations value close to the modification value. The value of the 228 tariff items was expected to go up to US$1.2 billion upon renegotiation compared to only US$43 million if the option was not taken. The minister said the option would also require Indonesia to notify all parties with supplying interest, in this case all Asean members and China. “This may prompt other Asean members to also ask for compensations from Indonesia,” she said. She said the settlement of the option would also take time because each tariff item to be renegotiated had to be checked. “The option could also hurt the country`s image as it would demonstrate the country`s uncertainty, and this could affect other sectors such as investment,” she said. She added that by choosing special talks Indonesia would not be required to notify all parties with supplying interest so that it need not give compensations to other Asean member countries. “Its settlement will also be relatively short. Also, Indonesia will not have to pay compensations to China,” she said. She said the special talks option was more comprehensive with regard to increasing the competitiveness of the industries feared
to lose in the competition as a result of the ACFTA. She added the agreement was comprehensive because it was not only for boosting trade to become more balanced, but also mutually beneficial covering steps to increase competitiveness, investment, infrastructure development, credit facilities and other kinds of cooperation. On April 2, 2010 in Yogyakarta Minister Mari and her Chinese counterpart, Chen Deming, agreed among others to form a working group to analyze data and information of the two-way trade and recommended various steps with focus on products in the list of 228 tariff objects such as steel, textiles and textile products and shoes. The working group involves the ministries of economic affairs, trade, industry, finance, agriculture and manpower. It will also monitor trade balance and anticipate possible hikes of imports in the two countries. “The group will make recommendations and determine steps needed to respond them,” she said. She said her office would also set up a new directorate, Directorate General of Standardization and Consumer Protection, to monitor imported products especially with regard to their quality so that consumers would not be hurt. “The new directorate will support the implementation of standardization of national products to meet competition in the global market,” she said.