Jakarta (ANTARA) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino has congratulated Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir on his appointment as Indonesia’s new minister of youth and sports.

“My heartfelt congratulations to @erickthohir on being appointed as Indonesia's new Minister of Youth and Sports,” Infantino wrote on his Instagram account @gianni_infantino, as cited on Thursday.

Thohir, who previously served as minister of state-owned enterprises, was sworn in by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, replacing Dito Ariotedjo.

Infantino praised Thohir’s leadership, saying he had done “excellent work” at PSSI and would bring vision and capacity to the new role.

“Good luck, my dear friend, as you try to take sports everywhere and introduce football to every young girl and boy in Indonesia,” Infantino added.

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Infantino also shared 10 photos highlighting his ties with Thohir from meetings in Indonesia and abroad.

Thohir replied in the comment section, thanking Infantino for his support for Indonesia and Asia more broadly.

“We truly appreciate FIFA's great support in fostering the development of football across Asia, including Indonesia. May this synergy between FIFA and Indonesia continue to flourish and contribute to the global development of football,” Thohir wrote.

The former Inter Milan president pledged to strengthen collaboration among domestic stakeholders to develop sports and youth in Indonesia and boost their role globally.

Thohir is a veteran sports figure, having chaired the organizing committee of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and served as president of the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) from 2004 to 2006.

He has also held shares in several sports clubs, including Inter Milan, DC United, Oxford United and the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers.

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