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)