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Bataks to 'settle' for BKPM head post
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo will likely give a âconsolation prizeâ to the Batak community, which was deeply disappointed with his decision not to include any representatives of the ethnic group in his Cabinet, a tradition that had been maintained by all previous presidents
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resident Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo will likely give a 'consolation prize' to the Batak community, which was deeply disappointed with his decision not to include any representatives of the ethnic group in his Cabinet, a tradition that had been maintained by all previous presidents.
The President is reportedly close to finalizing the appointment of Franky Sibarani as the new head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Franky is currently deputy chairman of the powerful Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo).
'Jokowi is very close to making a final decision,' a source familiar with the matter told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto confirmed on Friday that President Joko 'Jokowi' had appointed a new BKPM chief, the frontline institution bridging the interests of investors and the government.
'The presidential decree [on the appointment] is already [signed]. The [new chief] inauguration will take place next week,' he said.
Andi declined to reveal the name of the official who will replace Mahendra Siregar, also a Batak, who resigned from his position on Oct. 20 when Jokowi officially replaced Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Mahendra, a career diplomat, has held various positions in the government, including the position of deputy trade minister and deputy finance minister.
Franky, an executive with giant instant food producer Garudafood Group, was born in 1965 and graduated from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) in 1988.
Franky, however, refused to confirm the rumor regarding his appointment.
'Where did you get the news?' he said. 'I haven't been summoned yet [by the President].'
In a move to attract investors and boost national development, Jokowi recently instructed all governors, mayors and regents to establish one-stop business license services in their respective regions by next year.
Jokowi's first blusukan (impromptu visit) as president was to the BKPM late in October, during which he was surprised to learn that it could take months, even years to secure a business license in the country.
He pledged to streamline all licensing procedures so that they fell under the authority of one body only, namely the BKPM.
Indonesia maintained strong foreign direct investment (FDI) growth in the third quarter of this year as investors remained optimistic about the country's long-term outlook following Jokowi's announcement of programs to promote growth and reform in Southeast Asia's largest economy.
The BKPM reported last month that total FDI realization in the third quarter grew 16.9 percent year-on-year to reach Rp 78.3 trillion (US$6.4 billion).
Meanwhile, domestic direct investment (DDI) grew 24.2 percent to hit Rp 41.6 trillion. The combination of FDI and DDI took total realized investments from July to September to Rp 119.9 trillion.
'The President wants to see this national one-stop service ready in four months or sooner,' Coordinating Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil said earlier this week after a Cabinet meeting.
