Agus Suparmanto Removed By Jokowi From Trade Minister Replaced By Muhammad Lutfi

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed Muhammad Lutfi as Minister of Trade (Mendag) replacing Agus Suparmanto.

President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin delivered this change in ministerial position at the State Palace, Tuesday, December 22.

"Finally, Mr. Muhammad Lutfi. We will give him the task of leading the Ministry of Trade," Jokowi said when announcing the name of his new minister which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account.

On that occasion, President Jokowi explained a number of positions that Lutfi had held, namely as Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). In addition, he also served as Minister of Trade in 2014 during the presidency of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Then, Lutfi was also recorded as having served as Indonesian Ambassador to Japan from 2010 to 2013 and served as Indonesian Ambassador to the United States last September.

Apart from Lutfi, there are a number of other names appointed by Jokowi as ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. They are Tri Risma Harini as Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Sandiaga Uno as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Wahyu Sakti Trenggono as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Budi Gunadi Sadikin as Minister of Health, and Yaqut Cholil Coumas as Minister of Religion.

Furthermore, these ministers will be sworn in on Wednesday, December 23 tomorrow.