"Sri Mulyani is the best suited figure to influence and revive market confidence," Tony Prasetiantono of Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) stated.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sri Mulyani Indrawati is the best suited person to hold the post of finance minister because she is known for her ability to shore up confidence in the money market, an economist has said.

"Sri Mulyani is the best suited figure to influence and revive market confidence," Tony Prasetiantono of Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) stated in a statement released here on Wednesday.

He believed Sri will be able to assure market players of the governments efforts to settle several problems in the economic field such as budget deficit, currently under pressure.

"If Sri Mulyani is ready, now will be the right time for her (to do so). The fiscal conditions are currently under pressure, and the budget deficit is widening. Extra efforts are needed to slash the deficit," he added.

He expressed the hope that Sri could push ahead with the tax amnesty program so that businessmen, who stashed their capital abroad, avail of it and funds are repatriated.

"I hope she will be able to guard the tax amnesty program properly. Investors or capital owners need an economic minister they can trust and Sri Mulyani meets that qualification," he noted.

He further praised President Joko Widodo for being able to convince Sri Mulyani to serve again as finance minister after she had joined the World Bank where she worked for the past six years. Sri Mulyani had earlier rejected the offer.

"We I met the president in July last year, he said he was aware of the need to appoint economic ministers who are able to convince the market. That is a qualification that Sri Mulyani certainly has," he remarked.

President Jokowi has appointed Sri Mulayani as a new finance minister to replace Bambang Brodjonegoro who has been appointed as chief of the National Development Planning Agency.

Born in Bandar Lampung on August 26, 1962, Sri Mulyani had served as finance minister from 2005 to 2010.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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