Laksamana gets award in Hong Kong

JAKARTA: State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi recently received an award from a Hong Kong-based magazine for his privatization program.

FinanceAsia named Laksamana "The Capital Market Person of the Year 2003" in Asia, citing his role in pushing the privatization of state bank Bank Mandiri last year.

The magazine said the initial public offering of the bank, which attracted many foreign investors, triggered a surge in the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

The award was given to Laksamana at a gala dinner in Hong Kong last Friday.

Previous recipients of the award include Frank Sixt, the chief financial officer of Hong Kong-based business group Hutchison Whampoa, and Chua Sock Kook, chief financial officer of telecom giant Singapore Telecommunications. -- JP