And the analysts agree that who Mr Prabowo includes in his Cabinet line-up will be key to him achieving his goals, especially that of the finance minister portfolio.
Mr Prabowo’s nephew Thomas Djiwandono was inaugurated as deputy finance minister in July, and some believe he may be the next finance minister.
But Mr Andry from INDEF warned that the market may react negatively towards perceived signs of nepotism. Hence, Mr Prabowo is advised to prevent this.
“The fear is that it would be viewed as a non-independent move and is highly political.
“Political neutrality is needed in the finance minister,” Mr Andry said.
On Oct 14, President-elect Prabowo interviewed 49 ministerial candidates, including current Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
The 62-year-old former World Bank managing director told reporters afterwards that Mr Prabowo had asked her to serve again as the country’s finance minister.
However, she did not indicate whether she would take up the post again.
And on Oct 15, Mr Prabowo interviewed potential deputy ministers – among them Mr Thomas Djiwandono – who told reporters that he was asked to help Mdm Sri Mulyani along with two other deputy ministers.
Mdm Hendri Saparini, founder of CORE Indonesia, believes that Indonesia does have the potential to grow big.
“Of course, it won’t grow eight per cent in 2025 because it will grow gradually,” said Mdm Hendri, adding that Indonesia has the potential to develop several other underutilised sectors in order to hit Mr Prabowo’s target economic growth.
She noted that the country, for example, has about 40 types of mangoes, but they have yet to be developed into products other than mango juice.
“We have the potential to tap into the domestic and global market. But it depends on how we design the processing industry for those products by creating incentives for those who want to buy such products.
“If we do that, we will achieve that high growth,” she said.
Source: CNA
