Indonesia picks investment board chief as new trade minister

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed Gita Wirawan, chairman of investment coordinating board as the nation's new trade minister, Wirawan said here on Monday. President also appointed Dahlan Iskan, President Director of state electricity firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara as new minister for state-owned enterprises, Dahlan said. Marciano Norman, former commander forces for presidential security was appointed as new intelligent chief, said Norman. Senior lawyer Amir Syamuddin was elected as minister of law and human rights, he said. Djan Farid, chairman of Jakarta chapter of the biggest Muslim Organization Nahdlatul Ulema, was picked up as housing minister. Azwar Abubakar, a member of Commission One in charge of politics of the parliament was picked up as minister of state apparatus, said Azwar. Most of the six new ministers are from professional, dismissing public concern that the president prefers to put more attention on political aspects. President Yudhoyono has said he aims to boost work performance of his administration at the rest of three years of his tenure following the decline of image of his cabinet due to allegation on scores of ministries on graft and personal affairs scandals. Yudhoyono was reelected in July 2009, vowing to strengthen the reform that he had made during his first five-year term. He targets an annual economic growth average of 6.6 percent by the reminder of his term by 2014 so as to create million of jobs through building massive infrastructure and improving governance. All the new minister are to be inaugurated on Oct. 19 at the State palace, according to official at the State Palace.