I find Muhammad Luthfi eligible for the position of trade minister."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged the new trade minister to give top priority to stabilize the domestic food prices, while continuing efforts to advance the national trade sector as one of the countrys economic pillars.

On Wednesday, President Yudhoyono appointed former Indonesian ambassador to Japan Muhammad Luthfi as the new trade minister to replace Gita Wirjawan who tendered his resignation last January, in order to pursue presidential candidacy.

"I find Muhammad Luthfi eligible for the position of trade minister," remarked the President speaking in context of the newly appointed trade minister.

Before his appointment as the Indonesian ambassador to Japan, Muhammad Luthfi held the post of chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board.

President Yudhoyono emphasized that the new trade minister must be actively involved in stabilizing the prices, which is one of the key aspects of the trade.

Although the global economy is yet to fully bounce back, the President explained that the new trade minister must also put in his level best in order to secure exports and open new markets.

With regard to international cooperation, he reported that cooperation through G20, ASEAN, and APEC must be ably maintained, so that the countrys economic interests can be preserved.

"I have confidence in Lutfi with the hope that trade will remain one of Indonesias economic pillars," he claimed.

The president added that Vice President Boediono, who is an economist, had assisted him in jointly carrying out a proper evaluation of Muhammad Lutfi before arriving at the decision to appoint him as the new trade minister.

He noted that Lutfi is not a novice to administration as he had earlier contributed to the governments functioning when he was the head of the Investment Coordinating Board.

He remarked that while holding the post of the BKPM head, he had successfully managed to lure investment into the country, while the world was reeling under a global economic crisis.

(Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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