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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono installed 15 new ambassadors, most of them career diplomats, for countries in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, on Friday at the Merdeka State Palace in Jakarta.

In an effort to boost Indonesia's image abroad and enhance economic ties, Yudhoyono appointed senior Foreign Ministry officials as his envoys to prominent countries such as Germany, Australia, Italy and South Korea. He also installed three outsiders as ambassadors to Slovakia, Pakistan and Jordan.

Dian Triansyah Djani, 46, was appointed Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva. Prior to this, Dian, an alumni of Vanderbilt University in the US, served as the Foreign Ministry's director general for ASEAN affairs.

Primo Alui Joelianto, 59, the Foreign Ministry's director general for Asia-Pacific and African affairs, will take over as Indonesian ambassador to Australia.

Indonesia will send Eddy Pratomo, the ministry's director general of legal and international treaties, as its ambassador to Germany, the biggest economy in Europe.

"Indonesia and Germany established relations 53 years ago, and it will be a great challenge for me to work to enhance ties in education, defense and trade areas," Eddy told The Jakarta Post.

Nicholas Tandi Dammen, 58, the ministry's deputy secretary-general for ASEAN, will move to South Korea to head the Indonesian diplomatic mission in Seoul.

Mohamad Oemar, 47, will become Indonesian ambassador to Italy. Harsha Edwana Joesoef, 49, a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), was named as Indonesian ambassador to Slovakia. Former lawmaker and rear admiral (ret.) Ishak Latuconsina, will head Indonesia's mission in Pakistan.