Rini shuffles industry and trade officials

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has replaced 11 senior officials at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, although most have taken up new positions within the office, while fresh faces have succeeded them in their old posts.

Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Soewandi said that the reshuffle would invigorate the organization, and that the new leadership would improve its efficiency.

"This will help accelerate our revitalization program of the industry and its recovery," Rini said during the inauguration ceremony of the new officials on Thursday.

The reshuffle was based on Presidential Decree No. 58/2002, and marked the first major personnel change since January of last year, when the government replaced four first-echelon officials.

Rini replaced her ministry's secretary general Muchtar with Haryanto Ekowaluyo. Muchtar took over the post of Inspector General, which was held before by Maj. Gen. (ret) Cholid Ghozali.

Agus Tjahajana Wirakusumah left his post as the director general of metal, machinery, electronics and miscellaneous industries, to replace Marwoto as the director general for trade of small and midsize industries.

Agus' replacement is Achdiat Atmawinata.

Teddy Setiadi, the former director general for domestic trade, has been appointed as the minister's expert staff for technology and advancement of industry structure.

Replacing Teddy as the director general for domestic trade is Ardiansyah Parman.

Stepping down from his post as the director general for international cooperation in trade and industry is Hatanto Reksodiputro.

He is now on the minister's expert staff for the improvement of industry and trade competitiveness.

Hatanto was recently appointed as chief commissioner at state- run cement maker PT Semen Gresik, a company plagued by controversy over plans to sell it to foreign investors.

Rini also replaced Gusmardi Bustami, chairman of the National Export Development Body. She made him chairman of the Commodity Exchange Supervisory Board. His replacement is Diah Maulida.

Diah was Rini's expert staff for technology and advancement of industry structure, a position Teddy now holds.

Whereas the previous chairman of the commodity exchange supervisory board, Ridwan Kurnaen is now the expert staff on industry and trade resources, replacing Atih Suryati Herman.

Ridwan was appointed January last year, supervising the country's fledging commodity exchange market.

Also leaving his post after just over a year, is the head of the industry and trade research and development board, Manahan Laut Simbolon. He is replaced by Sudarmasto.