President Widodo, in the company of Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, announced the appointment of Lufti as trade minister at the Presidential Palace here on Tuesday evening.
Born in Jakarta on August 16, 1969, Lufti held the post of chief of the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) during the period from 2005 to 2009.
Lufti was later appointed as trade minister during the government of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president Boediono from February 14 to October 20, 2014.
During the Widodo-Amin leadership era, Lufti was appointed as Indonesian ambassador to the US.
Lufti, who graduated from Pundue University, Indiana, the United States, once developed business with Erick Thohir, Wishnu Wardana, and Hanry Zulhardy. They set up the Mahaka Group, a company engaged in mining, finance, and media, with Lufti, as its president director and CEO.
At the age of 29, Lufti was appointed as chief of the Indonesian Young Businessmen Association for Greater Jakarta (HIPMI JAYA) for the 1998-2001 period and chief of HIPMI for the 2001-2004 period.
President Widodo announced six new ministers of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The six are Tri Rismaharini as social affairs minister, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno as tourism and creative economy minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin as health minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as religious affairs minister, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono as maritime affairs and fisheries minister, and M. Lutfi as trade minister.
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