Key economic appointments in Indonesia's new cabinet

INDONESIA - JAKARTA. Indonesian President Joko Widodo unveiled his cabinet for a second term on Wednesday, retaining Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the core of his economic team but also bringing in some new faces.

Here are some of the main economy-focused appointments:

AIRLANGGA HARTARTO, COORDINATING MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Hartarto, 57, is chairman of one of Indonesia's largest political parties, Golkar, and was Widodo's industry minister in the first term. He is a son of Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, who also served as industry minister under the late authoritarian leader Suharto.

Hartarto has overseen efforts to get industries to upgrade technologies, dubbed "Making Indonesia 4.0", as well as designing regulations to support the electric vehicle industry.

Prior to becoming a minister, he was a businessman with interests ranging from fertiliser distribution, paper manufacturing to steel making.

LUHUT PANDJAITAN, COORDINATING MINISTER FOR MARITIME AFFAIRS, NATURAL RESOURCES, INVESTMENT

Pandjaitan, 72, is a retired general and coal magnate who has played a pivotal role in both of Widodo's campaigns for office in 2014 and 2019.

He has held the posts of chief of staff, chief security minister and finally coordinating minister for maritime affairs in Widodo's first term, a post he will retain.

His role has encompassed projects in China's Belt and Road Initiative, waste management and efforts to build an electric vehicle industry by leveraging the country's rich resources of nickel used in batteries.

SRI MULYANI INDRAWATI, FINANCE MINISTER

Indrawati is a former managing director of the World Bank and has served as finance minister under both Widodo and his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

An economist, Indrawati, 57, is known for her tough stance on corruption and tax evasion and won respect for her role in steering Indonesia through the global financial crisis in 2008.

Consistently making the Forbes' list of 100 most powerful women in recent years, she has overseen a conservative fiscal policy since becoming Widodo's finance minister in 2016, maintaining a low budget deficit, despite higher spending on infrastructure.

She has also led efforts to reform Indonesia's tax system, seeking to capitalise on a tax amnesty programme in 2016-2017, though revenue collection has remained weak.

ARIFIN TASRIF, ENERGY MINISTER

Arifin Tasrif, 66, had been Indonesian ambassador to Japan since 2017. Until 2015, he led state-owned fertiliser holding company PT Pupuk Indonesia and prior to that had a long career in the petrochemical industry.

Tasrif was involved in Indonesia's negotiations with Japanese energy company Inpex to finalise a long-delayed $20 billion development plan of Indonesia's Masela gas block.

AGUS SUPARMANTO, TRADE MINISTER

A politician from the National Awakening Party, he has previously held the position of president director of shipyard company Galangan Manggar Biliton, according to media reports.

ERICK THOHIR, STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES MINISTER

Billionaire businessman Thohir, 49, controls Mahaka Group, which focuses on media and entertainment. He is part of the Thohir family which owns businesses in mining, automotive and property sectors.

He also has stakes in basketball clubs and was the former chairman of Italian soccer club Inter Milan.

Thohir was Widodo's campaign manager during the 2019 election after getting credit for successfully heading the organising team behind the 2018 Asian Games hosted by Indonesia.

BAHLIL LAHADALIA, HEAD OF INVESTMENT COORDINATING BOARD

The 43-year-old entrepreneur was born in the eastern city of Banda and grew up in the restive easternmost region of Papua. He previously headed HIPMI, the Indonesian young entrepreneurs association.

He said he had worked in jobs ranging from driving a bus to selling fish, before he built a fortune in wood trading.

A holding company he owns, PT Rifa Capital, has interests in coal mining in Fakfak, Papua, and nickel mining in Halmahera, North Maluku, as well as logistics.

IDA FAUZIAH, MANPOWER MINISTER

A former leader of the women's branch of the Nahdlatul Ulama - Indonesia's biggest Muslim group, Fauziah, 50, will oversee a ministry in charge of revising the strict labour laws, which can be politically difficult due to opposition from labour groups.

Fauziah, who was a high school teacher before serving as a lawmaker in parliament for two decades till earlier this year, was part of Widodo's parliamentary campaign in charge of gathering women's votes. She is also a member of the National Awakening Party.