Radius Prawiro passes away at 77 in Germany

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Noted economist and former top minister Radius Prawiro passed away on Thursday in Munchen, Germany, after days of medical treatment after he suffered a heart attack. He was 77.

News of his death was confirmed by employees at Radius' office in Jakarta, and by Soeharto, a security guard at the residence of Radius' third son Tri Putra Yusni Prawiro.

Radius is survived by his wife Leoni Supit, four children and several grandchildren.

Radius went to Munchen with his wife on May 20 to receive medical treatment for his heart condition.

Born on June 29, 1928 in Yogyakarta, Radius was known as one of former president Soeharto's closest aides, and was assigned to lead various government departments during the 32-year New Order regime.

Radius, the eldest of 11, attended the University of Indonesia to study economics, and later pursued higher study at the Nederlandsche Economische Hogeschool in Rotterdam in 1953.

In mid 1965, Radius, who had been active in a number of civil organizations, was appointed as Supreme Audit Agency deputy head.

Since 1966, he was entrusted with various leading positions in several state institutions, including as governor of Bank Indonesia in 1966, minister of trade from 1973 to 1983, minister of finance from 1983 to 1988, and as chief minister of economic affairs until 1993, before he eventually retired.

He was also a governor of the International Monetary Fund and a deputy governor of the Asian Development Bank for Indonesia from 1967 to 1971, and head of the World Bank's board of governors from 1971 to 1973.

Due to his expertise and skill, Radius was again selected as a team member to negotiate foreign debt rescheduling for Indonesia in 1998.