Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, was awarded an honorary medal by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi yesterday, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at State Palace. The minister, who recently stepped down from his post as Golkar Party Chair, was conferred the Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama medal.
Airlangga was one of 64 individuals who received the medals. "This journey has been long, amid the aberrant situation in Indonesia and the world," the minister said on Wednesday, expressing his gratitude to all ranks of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
The former Golkar Party Chair also conveyed that ministry officials must commit to maintaining the national economy. This accomplishment, he said, must become a momentum to build confidence in facing the obstacles that may arise.
President Jokowi conferred honorary medals to individuals, units, government institutions, or organizations based on their devotion and dedication to the country. The Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama medal was given in accordance with the Presidential Decree 104/TK/TH 2024 dated August 9, 2024.
Airlangga-led Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs has managed to maintain the national economy. Up to the second quarter of 2024, Indonesia achieved a 5.05 percent economic growth year-on-year (y-o-y) while inflation was steady at around 2.13 percent y-o-y in July 2024.
In line with this role, Airlangga has established various economic cooperation at the global level, both bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally. As a minister, he also carried out numerous assigned tasks, namely as Chair of the Job Creation Committee, Chair of the G20 Sherpa Track, Chair of the One Map Policy Acceleration Team, Chair of the National Council for Special Economic Zones (SEZ), and Chair of the Central Inflation Control Team.
Airlangga Hartarto was also the Chair of the Committee for the Acceleration of Infrastructure Provision (KPPIP), the Chief Executive of the National Team of OECD, the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), the Coordinator of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the Chair of the Financing Policy Committee for MSMEs through the KUR Program.
Airlangga is currently spotlighted due to his sudden resignation as the General Chair of the Golkar Party last Saturday. He stepped down while the party was preparing to face regional head elections.
Airlangga Hartarto's resignation also astounded the former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md. According to Mahfud, Airlangga Hartarto's resignation came as a surprise considering the party he led is "in its golden age."