"I am a member of the Indonesian diaspora. I worked and studied in Indonesia, Japan, Europe, and Italy and lived in America," he said in Jakarta on Monday.
Since March, Ikrar has undergone a series of evaluations and a propriety test as a candidate to replace his predecessor, Penny Lukito. Prabowo recommended him.
Finally, I was selected in the final interview last night. I expressed my sincere gratitude to President Jokowi for appointing me," he said, referring to Joko Widodo's popular name.
Ikrar, who served as a BPOM employee from 2008 to 2022, is seeking to promote the authority at a global level through his experience as a member of the Indonesian diaspora.
He stated that improving BPOM's quality and reputation can bring the institution to compete in the international market, ensuring that the products it approves can be accepted globally and, therefore, support Indonesian exports.
He highlighted the importance of innovation in the drug and food regulation process to increase efficiency and keep up with technological developments.
Drug legalization that has been carried out in other countries must be applied without neglecting existing standards, he said.
Speaking in connection with the food sector, Ikrar remarked that technological developments, such as genetic engineering, have brought major innovations, including the production of meat from cells.
In addition, he emphasized the need to develop further the potential of local products, such as jamu, an Indonesian herbal drink.
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Translator: Andi, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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