Silence is golden, so they say. And it seems Armida Alisjahbana thinks that way.
Since her introduction as the state minister for national development planning last week, she has barely said a word to journalists regarding her plans for economic development in the next 100 days.
While other economic ministers have said something, albeit very little, about their 100-day plans, Armida has stayed quiet.
Only at her inauguration into the post she did say a few words about the medium and long term objectives being elaborated from her new office in the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
"There is a target. But let the president convey it. The job of Bappenas is to coordinate development planning related to poverty rate reduction and employment creation. That is the challenge," she said.
She added that her office would discuss that challenge with other related ministries to aim to achieve 7 percent economic growth by 2014, as expected by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Bappenas will also need to balance growth at central and regional levels to promote more equal growth, she said.
While her predecessor Paskah Suzetta is an easy-going figure from a political background, Armida is an academic, adding to the number of women in the economic team lineup in the new Cabinet.
Perhaps as a technocrat, she thinks actions are more important than words.
Armida, born in Bandung 49 years ago, is a professor in Padjadjaran University's school of economics (FE Unpad). She once headed the economics and development studies major in FE Unpad.
She graduated from the University of Indonesia's school of economics, just like Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who both have the confidence of Yudhoyono, so maintaining their positions.
Armida pursued her master's degree in Northwestern University, in the US, and her doctoral degree in University of Washington.
While a professor in Unpad, she also serves as a consultant to the World Bank and Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
Her jobs means she should be in frequent contact with Bappenas and the Finance Ministry.
"While I was an academic I also helped the Finance Ministry and the office of the coordinating minister for the economy. So I don't feel alienated here, I have friends already," said Armida.
Economist Aviliani, a friend of Armida, at the Indonesian Economic Graduates Union (ISEI), said while Armida's economics skills were exceptional, she might need to adapt to the bureaucratic style and ways of working at Bappenas.
"She may need to adapt *with the work procedures at Bappenas*. Leading a bureaucracy is a job she has never done. It may take some time for her to adjust to the bureaucracy. But her capacity *in economics* is undoubted" she added.
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