Profile of Chatib Basri, Economist Rumored to Replace Purbaya as Minister of Finance

Chatib Basri (VOI/Teddy Kurniawan)

YOGYAKARTA - Chatib Basri's name is back in the public spotlight after being rumored to replace Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as Minister of Finance. Although the rumor was later denied by Chatib himself, many parties again highlighted his track record as an influential technocrat and his long experience that made him worthy of returning to fill the important position.

So, who is Chatib Basri? Reported from various sources, here is the discussion.

Chatib Basri's Profile

His full name is Muhammad Chatib Basri, born in Jakarta on August 22, 1965. He attended elementary and secondary education at Kanisius College before continuing his studies in economics at the University of Indonesia. After earning a bachelor's degree, he continued his master's and doctoral studies at the Australian National University with a focus on development economics.

His academic career developed rapidly along with his reputation as an economic researcher. He has extensively researched international trade issues, macroeconomics, and political economy. In addition, he is active as a lecturer and researcher in the campus environment, especially at the LPEM FEB UI.

His career in government began to rise when Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed him as Head of the Investment Coordinating Board in 2012. Then on May 21, 2013, he was entrusted to replace Agus Martowardojo as Minister of Finance.

As Minister of Finance for the period 2013-2014, Chatib Basri faced a major challenge due to global economic turmoil. The "taper tantrum" phenomenon from the United States caused capital flows to leave developing countries, including Indonesia. In this situation, he was considered able to maintain fiscal stability and investor confidence.

After no longer serving in the government, Chatib Basri's career continued at the international level. He was a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Center for International Development. This role shows the global recognition of his intellectual capacity.

Not only that, he was also involved in various international institutions such as the World Bank. Chatib even became part of the advisory board related to global development and economic issues. This activity strengthens his position as a world-class economist.

Currently, Chatib Basri is still active in teaching at the University of Indonesia and is involved in various global economic forums. As an independent technocrat without political party affiliation, Chatib is known to have an objective approach in formulating policies. His views are often a reference for the government, business actors, and investors.

If you look at his experience and intellectual capacity, it is not surprising that Chatib Basri's name resurfaced in the midst of the rupiah exchange rate's plunge and the magnitude of global economic turmoil.

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