Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appointed Mahendra Siregar, currently Indonesian ambassador to the United States, as deputy foreign minister and given him a year’s time to achieve the target pertaining to global and foreign affairs.
"I have met with the president to get instructions on issues concerning global and foreign affairs," Siregar remarked after meeting with President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace here on Friday.
Jokowi has given Siregar a year to achieve the target set for the sector. "If (the target) could not be reached, then he will seek a successor," he remarked.
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Increasing the quality of promotion, investment, and trade are targeted for this year.
"It includes realizing a $10 to 25 billion increase in exports within the next two to five years," he stated.
Jokowi has also called on Siregar to ensure sustainability of the Indonesian palm oil industry.
Siregar has expressed readiness to fulfill his tasks at hand and will resign from his current position as ambassador to the United States.
President Jokowi has retained Retno Marsudi as foreign minister in his Indonesia Moving Forward Cabinet for the 2019-2014 term.
Marsudi is the first woman to have filled the Foreign Ministry’s top position, and her gleaming reputation was well-earned owing to her numerous achievements for Indonesia during her time in office.
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