ITB grants Hartarto honorary doctoral degree
ITB grants Hartarto honorary doctoral degree
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, coordinating
minister for production and distribution, was awarded an honorary
doctoral degree yesterday by the prestigious Bandung Institute of
Technology (ITB).
Hartarto, who was born in Surakarta, Central Java, 64 years
ago, is the third person, after Indonesia's first president
Sukarno and Soetaryo Sigit, to be granted an honorary doctorate
by the institute.
This honorary doctoral degree is the first Hartarto has
received from a domestic institution, but the fifth granted to
him by various universities around the world.
Hartarto received honorary doctorates from Nagpur University
in India (1992), University of New South Wales in Australia
(1993), Nanyang University in Singapore (1995), Erasmus
University (1995), and the Bernard Mandeville Foundation (1995),
both in the Netherlands.
Matthias Aroef, promoter and chairman of a special team
assigned to assess Hartarto's achievement, said that Hartarto has
successfully helped transform Indonesia's economy from an
agriculture-led economy to an industry-led economy.
Hartarto accomplished this distinct achievement when he served
as minister of industry for two consecutive terms from 1983 to
1993. During that period the country experienced a drastic
structural change in its economy with rapid growth in industrial
and non-oil exports.
"During his two-term tenure as minister of industry from 1983
to 1993, there were many changes he made for the country,"
Matthias said at yesterday's ceremony, which was led by the
institute's rector Wiranto Arismunandar.
During the period from 1983 to 1993, Indonesia's annual non-
oil exports grew from US$5 billion, or 23.67 percent of the
country's total exports, to $27.07 billion, representing 73.51
percent of total exports.
During the same period, annual exports of industrial products
increased from $3.21 billion or 64.4 percent of the country's
total non-oil exports, to $23.29 billion, which accounted for
86.03 percent of total non-oil exports.
"During the time when Indonesia's industry was growing at
extra speed, Indonesia was referred to internationally as the
astonishing rising star," Matthias said.
When Hartarto assumed the position of minister of industry in
1983, Indonesia's economy was in danger of stagnation. To avoid
this, Hartarto and other ministers involved with the economy
introduced deregulation measures.
To stimulate industrial growth, Hartarto spearheaded the
drafting of an industrial bill, which was passed into law by the
House of Representatives in 1984.
"His strategy stopped the stagnation," Matthias said at the
ceremony, which was attended by academics, businesspeople and 11
cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Political
Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono, State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo,
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, State Minister of Food Ibrahim
Hassan, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman and
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro. (rid)