In accordance with President Joko Widodo's directives, we want to make Indonesia an advanced nation. We are trying to create a good trade balance and a significant increase in trade volume.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga has vowed to improve the trade balance by encouraging a significant increase in export volumes. "In accordance with President Joko Widodo's directives, we want to make Indonesia an advanced nation. We are trying to create a good trade balance and a significant increase in trade volume," Vice Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga in Jakarta, Friday.

The function of the Vice Minister of Trade is to assist in the duties of the minister, Sambuaga said.

"Obviously with such a broad and complex job, the deputy minister should support the minister technically and administratively," he remarked.

Ministers and their deputies were complementary positions, Sambuaga believed.

"I will coordinate with the director general, secretary general and others. I believe this coordination is important," he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) earlier introduced 12 vice ministers for his Indonesia Onward Cabinet at around 1:00 p.m. local time at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

The vice ministers were sworn in at the Merdeka Palace, Friday. They arrived at the palace at around 8:30 a.m. local time to meet Jokowi.

President Director of PT Inalum Budi Gunadi Sadikin became the first vice minister candidate to enter the Merdeka Palace, followed by Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, a senior figure from the United Development Party (PPP) and deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council.

The third was Wahyu Sakti Trenggono, former treasurer of the national campaign team of Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin.

The fourth candidate was Angelia Tanusoedibjo, daughter of the chairman of the Perindo Party, Hari Tanoesoedibjo.

The fifth was Surya Chandra, a politician of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and earlier on the board of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.

John Wempi Wetipo, former head of Jawawijaya District for 2008-2013 and 2013-2018, was the sixth followed by Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, currently serving as managing director of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk.

The eighth candidate was Mahendra Siregar, Indonesia's ambassador to the United States, who is also the former deputy minister of Indonesian trade, while the ninth was Alue Dohong, the deputy for Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of the Peat Restoration Agency.

Budi Ari Setiadi, former head of Projo, a volunteer group of Joko Widodo, was the 10th candidate, while Jerry L Sambuaga, a Golkar Party politician, was the 11th, and Suahasil Nazara, currently serving as head of Fiscal Policy Agency at the Ministry of Finance, was the 12th candidate to enter.

Translator: Agus S, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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