ADB’s new RI chief eyes stronger partnership

JAKARTA: The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) new country director for Indonesia, Jon Lindborg, expects to sustain and enhance the Manila-based lender’s strong partnership with the Indonesian government, private sector, civil society and other development partners.

“I am keen to strengthen ADB’s role as a responsive and results-oriented partner with Indonesia and will continue to support its pursuit of a better and prosperous country in the years to come,” Lindborg, who assumed office on Monday, said in an official press statement sent on Monday.

He mentioned the government’s Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) 2011-2025 as an example of an area in which the ADB would collaborate. The master plan is expected to make Indonesia among the world’s ten largest economies by 2025.

Lindborg, who has over 25 years of professional experience in Southeast Asia and the surrounding regions with particular focus on public-private partnership (PPP), noted that strong growth has outpaced Indonesia’s ability to build necessary infrastructure and support regional connectivity.

“Likewise, strengthening human resources will be critical to improving Indonesia’s competitiveness and productivity,” the statement read, adding that improvements in the investment climate and public-service delivery were keys to creating new and expanded job opportunities in the country.

While Indonesia’s economic fundamentals remain strong the impact of current global economic uncertainties could affect exports and capital flows.

Lindborg is not new to Indonesia. His first tenure was with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a private sector development officer from 1988-1993. Later, he was the USAID/Indonesia deputy head of mission during 2002-2005.