Rahardi promises to boost exports, essensial supplies

JAKARTA (JP): Newly appointed Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said Saturday that boosting exports and maintaining a smooth supply of essential goods would be his top priorities.

"Exports and the supply of essentials are the two most pressing problems to be taken care of right now," Rahardi said after the handover ceremony of the ministerial post from his predecessor Mohamad "Bob" Hasan on Saturday.

The ministry will work with other ministries such as the forestry and plantations ministry and the finance ministry to ensure the supply of basic essentials, including food, medicines and medical equipments, he said.

Rahardi said the country's exports had suffered from deteriorated confidence of international communities and declining competitiveness due to producers' dependency on imported materials.

The former state minister of research and technology said he would resolve problems regarding letters of credit issued by local banks which had increasingly been rejected by international banks.

"We are still at the initial point of reform; economic recovery can only be achieved when we have a more supporting environment," he said.

Political tension which rose sharply in the last week and resulted in the resignation of president Soeharto on Thursday had affected the rupiah's value again, he said.

This in turn also affected the rating of Indonesian banks, further worsening the country's credibility, he said.

Rahardi, who is also former chairman of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, said he would ensure there was a healthy competitive environment, especially after an antimonopoly law had been issued.

"The most important thing is that there will be no vast accumulated wealth in one hand, neither horizontally or vertically," he said.

He said he would take firm action against any officials in the industry and trade ministry who were found guilty of graft practices such as collusion, corruption and nepotism.

Rahardi called on journalists to give input or any criticism either to him or through the five director generals who work under him.

He said all the director generals were free to talk to the press because they were knowledgeable in their fields.

Many high-ranking ministry officials in Indonesia are often difficult for journalists to approach because they would rather avoid making a statement that conflicts with anything said by their superiors.

Also at yesterday's ceremony, former minister Hasan said he was sure that Rahardi would do a better job than him.

"He is smarter and more qualified than I am," the controversial Hasan said in a brief speech.

Hasan, a timber tycoon and long-term buddy of Soeharto, said he would not return to his business, which he gave up when he took up the ministerial post in March.

"I am going back to manage the athletic organization, I'm still the president of the Asian Athletic Federation," he said, adding that his business was being taken care of by younger people.

Hasan said he would continue to participate in the Dharmais and Supersemar charities headed by Soeharto.

Bob said he had not met with the former president, who ruled the country for 32 years, since Soeharto resigned Thursday and handed his job to his then vice president B.J. Habibie. (das)