I Believe in Greatness of Women, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi making his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 20th WKRI Congress , at Grand Mercure Hotel, Mega Kemayoran Superblock, Jakarta, Tuesday (30/10). (Photo: JAY/PR)

After four years leading the nation, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo unveiled the reason he appointed eight women in his Cabinet.

For the record, it is the first time in Indonesian history that the Government has the most number of women within the Cabinet.  Previously, only 3 to 4 women were appointed as ministers.

“I believe in the greatness of women. I also believe their precision, toughness and readiness to work,” President Jokowi said in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 20^th Indonesian Women Catholic (WKRI) Congress held at Grand Mercure Hotel in Central Jakarta, Tuesday (30/10).

For the record, female ministers in President Jokowi’s Cabinet are Puan Maharani (Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Sri Mulyani Indrawati (Minister of Finance), Siti Nurbaya (Minister of the Environment and Forestry), Nila F. Moeloek (Minister of Health), Susi Pudjiastuti (Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), Retno Marsudi (Minister of Foreign Affairs),  Khofifah Indar Parawansa (Former Minister of Social Affairs), and Rini Soemarno (Minister of State-Owned Enterprises).

According to the President, from those eight women Ministers, some are soft-spoken like Mrs. Yohana (Minister of Women Empowerment and Children Protection) and Mrs. Nila Moeloek (Minister of Health), while some are more outspoken like Mrs. Susi Pudjiastuti (Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries).

On that occasion, President Jokowi expressed hope that the role of women organization in building the nation and in building Indonesia, including the role of the Indonesian Women Catholic Community, can continue to grow.

Also attending the event were Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saiffudin, Minister of Women Empowerment and Children Protection Yohana Yembise, Chairman of the Indonesia Church Conference (KWI) Mr. Mgr Ignatius Suharyo, pastors, and KWI officials. (DNA/JAY/ES)(HYP/EP/Naster)

Translated by: Harli Yudha Pratama
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas