Habibie names his team of economic advisors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie appointed three senior
\neconomists as advisors yesterday and revamped the Economic and
\nMonetary Resilience Council in a bid to accelerate revival of the
\ncountry's ailing economy, a minister said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said former president
\nSoeharto's two economic advisors Widjojo Nitisastro and Ali
\nWardhana along with former minister of finance Frans Seda would
\nassist the president with all problems affecting the country's
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
\"The measure is designed to turn the president's intention and
\ndetermination to take proactive policies to resolve the country's
\n(economic) problems into something more concrete,\" Akbar said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The three economists were key Soeharto advisors when the
\nformer president came to power in 1967. Soeharto retained Widjojo
\nand Ali as advisors until he stepped down last March. Both are
\nwidely respected by the international business community.<\/p>\n
Frans became a businessman after leaving the cabinet early in
\nthe 1970s.<\/p>\n
Widjojo played a key role during negotiations with the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international
\nfinancial institutions earlier this year.<\/p>\n
According to Akbar, Habibie appointed Widjojo chairman of the
\nresilience council, while State Minister of National Development
\nPlanning\/Chairman of the National Development Planning Agency
\n(Bappenas) Boediono was appointed secretary general. He replaces
\nSalim Group executive Anthony Salim, who recently resigned from
\nthe position.<\/p>\n
Widjojo was previously Soeharto's deputy on the council.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (Kadin) Aburizal
\nBakrie and head of Indonesia's corporate offshore debt team
\nRadius Prawiro have also been given positions on the council.<\/p>\n
The announcement of Boediono's appointment contradicts a claim
\nmade on Friday by Aburizal that he had been appointed secretary
\ngeneral but had not yet received official confirmation.<\/p>\n
The council was established to help monitor the implementation
\nof a 50-point reform plan agreed between Soeharto and the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a US$43 billion
\nrescue package.<\/p>\n
Soeharto appointed Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance
\nand Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita as executive chairman of the
\ncouncil shortly before Habibie replaced him as the country's
\nleader on May 21. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-names-his-team-of-economic-advisors-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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