President Jokowi Reshuffles his Cabinet

President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla take a picture together with the transferred and new ministers of Working Cabinet, at the Merdeka Palace’s yard, Jakarta, on Wednesday (27/7) morning

President Joko Widodo firmly said that he always tries so hard to make Working Cabinet works faster and more effective as well as to make the Cabinet works in a solid and supportive team so that it produces real results rapidly.

“Based on these considerations, today, Vice President and I decide to announce our second cabinet reshuffle. We transfer several ministers and heads of institution,” the President said in his press statement, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, at the Merdeka Palace’s Yard.On that occasion, the President announced 4 (four) ministers who are transferred from their positions: 1. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, previously was Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, now becomes Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs; 2.Bambang Brodjonegoro, previously was Minister of Finance, now becomes Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas); 3. Sofyan Djalil, previously was Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency, now becomes Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency, and 4. Thomas Trikasih Lembong, previously was Minister of Trade, now becomes Head of Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

To refresh the cabinet, the President appointed 9 (nine) new ministers joining the Working Cabinet, such as: 1. Wiranto (Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs); 2. Sri Mulyani Indrawati (Minister of Finance); 3. Eko Putro Sanjoyo (Minister of Villages, Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration); 4. Budi Karya Sumadi (Minister of Transportation); 5. Muhajir Effendi (Minister of Education and Culture); 6. Enggartiasto Lukito (Minister of Trade); 7. Airlangga Hartarto (Minister of Industry); 8. Archandra Tahar (Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources); and 9. Asman Abnur (Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform).

To Face Uneasy Challenges

In his introductory remarks before the reshuffle, the President said that ahead of two years of his government, Indonesia faces serious challenges. “We must find solution of poverty issues and reduce economic gap between people as well as regions. These problems must be solved rapidly,” the President said.

Therefore, the President added, the Government must strengthen national economy to encounter global economic challenges. Global economy is now slowing down and full of competition.

“The Government should provide job opportunities, reduce unemployment rate, and improve people’s welfare,” the President affirmed.

The President admitted that challenges are always changing and it should be rapid in responding it and in making a decision. “Our actions must be felt directly by the people, enjoyed by them in short, medium, or long term,” he said.

The President emphasized that the spirit of the reshuffle is to strengthen the performance of the cabinet. A cabinet that would work fast in a solid team, works for the people, and gives real benefits that could be enjoyed by the people. “Thus, after the inauguration at 1.30 p.m., the ministers will start their work by attending a plenary cabinet meeting,” the President concluded.  (UN/RHD/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)