Who Is Bahlil Lahadalia, The Minister Of Investment Called Jokowi Gutsy And Praised By Jusuf Kalla

The Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Bahlil Lahadalia officially serves as Minister of Investment after being inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) today, Wednesday, April 28 at the State Palace, Jakarta. Previously, Bahlil was the head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) who was appointed in 2019.

Indeed, Bahlil is quite an eccentric figure. His speaking style is straightforward and straightforward. Even so, he was known to have the determination and strong will to move forward.

In fact, President Jokowi once said that Bahlil was a figure who had great guts. But some people reverse the idiom: it takes guts to become Bahlil Lahadalia.

The bureaucrat who was born in Maluku in 1976 spent part of his time in Papua. He did not have many opportunities to experience a prosperous life when he was young. His father was just a construction worker and his mother a washerman.

To make a living, Bahlil is willing to take up various professions, from driving public transportation, selling newspapers, to starting his own business.

From here tested mental. Bahlil has successfully pursued a career as a respected entrepreneur in the Eastern Indonesia region.

He is listed as the founder of 10 companies under the banner of PT Rifa Capital as a holding company. Bahlil's company has entered into various business sectors, such as plantations, property, transportation, mining, to construction.

Several corporations under his control include PT Ganda Nusantara, PT MAP Surveillance and PT Pandu Selaras.

Bahlil's name began to fly on the national scene when he was trusted to be the General Chair of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (BPP Hipmi) for the 2015–2019 period.

In mid-2017, Vice President (Wapres) Jusuf Kalla had time to praise Bahlil. He said he had something in common with the 44-year-old man because he had been involved in the Islamic Student Association (HMI) and is now a businessman.

"Youth must have a strong entrepreneurial spirit," said the vice president at the time.

Whether related or not, President Jokowi, who was partnered with Jusuf Kalla in the government, was attracted to the figure of Bahlil.

In the ministerial selection held by the President for the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, Bahlil invited a stir because he was not on the election radar. He is included in the elite ranks of state officials such as Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Airlangga Hartarto, Tito Karnavian, to Prabowo Subianto.

Finally, Bahlil was asked to lead the Investment Coordinating Board for the period 2019-2024.

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir had leaked the reason why the President gave the investment assignment to the former Head of Hipmi. He said, Bahlil was the most appropriate person to unravel the constraints on investment in Indonesia.

The Mahaka boss considered Bahlil to be a Papuan businessman who was already concerned with complicated bureaucratic matters. For that, the Head of State entrusts this task to him.

"I see his task is how to synergize policies at the central and regional levels," said Erick Thohir.

Now, the former public transportation driver is officially the number one person for investment in this republic. Congratulations on duty, Minister!