Rahardi's appointment concerns businessmen

Rahardi's appointment concerns businessmen

JAKARTA (JP): Business associations have expressed their
doubts over the ability of Rahardi Ramelan as the new minister of
industry and trade.

Chairmen of the associations told The Jakarta Post yesterday
they were concerned that Rahardi, a former research and
technology minister and the chairman of the Agency for Assessment
and Application of Technology, was not the best person to take
charge of the industry and trade sectors.

"Rahardi comes from a technology and science background, he
(President Habibie) should have appointed someone with vast
knowledge and experience in trade," said the chairman of the
Importers Association of Indonesia, Amirudin Saud.

Amirudin stressed that an industry and trade minister must be
skillful in negotiating with the international community,
especially during the economic turmoil.

"Our international trade has many problems, especially
regarding (export) quotas and letters of credit," he said.

Amirudin said Tanri Abeng, a top executive reappointed as the
state minister for the empowerment of state enterprises, would
have been a more suitable candidate for the industry and trade
post.

Tanri Abeng comes from a strong business background, having
worked for large corporations such as the Bakrie Group prior to
his first appointment as minister by then president Soeharto in
March.

Chairman of the Indonesian Textile Association Bambang Riyadi
Soegomo agreed that Rahardi was not suitable for the position.

"Rahardi is a technocrat. A trade person must be able to sell
our country because we desperately need the foreign exchange
revenue," he said.

Bambang compared Rahardi unfavorably to his predecessor
Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, saying Bob knew and understood trade.

The controversial outgoing minister is a timber tycoon
and a long-term friend of Soeharto.

Bambang said he hoped Rahardi would not be bound by long
bureaucratic procedures during his term as industry and trade
minister.

The chairman of the Indonesian Retailers Association, H.J.A.
Sinungan, criticized the fact that Rahardi was not a "field
person".

"For industry and trade, we need a minister who goes to the
field to examine for himself what is making our problems," he
said.

"Problems regarding economy, distribution and production must
be resolved soon," he added.

The chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association, Anton
Supit, said yesterday that fixing the trade sector would be
Rahardi's biggest task.

"We have problems with the World Trade Organization and
declining competitiveness, for example. This must be resolved
with a good marketing approach," he said. (das)