Sri Edi for envoy
\nto U.S.<\/p>\n
As chairman of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for
\nforeign affairs, I still think that the government should
\nnominate another candidate for Indonesia's ambassador to the
\nUnited States, besides Sumadi Brotodiningrat, who will reach the
\nofficial retirement age within one year.<\/p>\n
The House would also be in a better position to conduct a more
\ndemocratic and transparent selection if it is given the chance to
\nchoose from at least two candidates. Several other members of my
\ncommission such as Hajriyanto Thohari of the Golkar faction and
\ndeputy chairman Aisyah Amini of the United Development faction
\nalso share my view about the need for two candidates.<\/p>\n
We need at least two candidates to be able to make the best
\nchoice.<\/p>\n
We think senior economist Sri Edi Swasono, a former leader of
\nthe Indonesian Cooperatives Council and vanguard of the
\ngrassroots economic movement, is another highly qualified
\ncandidate for the position at the U.S. mission.<\/p>\n
Our envoy to the U.S. should be an economics expert, who is
\nable to lobby for Indonesian interests, notably those with regard
\nto the development of the grassroots economy, and Sri Edi, who
\nhas always fought for the empowerment of cooperatives, fits that
\nbill.<\/p>\n
Even Soetardjo Soeryoguritno, House deputy speaker of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction,
\nalso sees Sri Edi as the most qualified candidate for the U.S.
\nmission, especially because he is a U.S-trained economist and
\nstill has an extensive network of contacts in that country.<\/p>\n
Indonesian businesspeople, who have extensive business
\ncontacts in the U.S., also support Sri Edi as the most suitable
\ncandidate, who will be able to exert an effective lobby in
\nWashington where the International Monetary Fund and the World
\nBank are headquartered.<\/p>\n
Tony Agus Ardie, chairman of the United States Committee of
\nthe Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), told me
\nrecently that Sri Edi is most capable of communicating and
\nfighting for the interests of Indonesia's grassroots economy in
\nthe U.S.<\/p>\n
Tony told me that his monitoring of influential leaders in the
\nSenate and American business community also showed that they
\nwould be much more comfortable having Sri Edi in the Indonesian
\nmission in Washington.<\/p>\n
IBRAHIM AMBONG
\nChairman of Commission I of DPR<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sri-edi-for-envoy-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }