Darwin Saleh Officially Takes Office In The Department Of ESDM

Jakarta – TAMBANG. A few hours after inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Darwin Zahedy Saleh took office at the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM in its Indonesian abbreviation). The new Minister of ESDM was welcomed in a ceremony held on Thursday afternoon, 22 October 2009. He delivered his first speech as the Minister of ESDM in the ceremony, without using a script.

“Allow me to use no script, to make it relax,” Darwin Saleh addressed the audience. Previously at the ceremony, Purnomo Yusgiantoro handed over the documents of Department of ESDM to Darwin Saleh, to mark the replacement.

Saleh admitted that challenges lie ahead of him, as a leader in the energy and mineral resources sector. “When I was assigned here, I made a sincere promise deep in my heart, that with the help of God and all of you, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will fulfill my duty for the nation,” he spoke in front of hundreds of staffs and stakeholders at the Department of ESDM.

The challenges include the contribution from energy and mineral resources for the state income, which accounted for more than 35%. Other challenges are to contribute to the foreign exchange reserve, to create job and its multiplier effect, to supply raw material for the industry, to supply energy, and so on.

“Further challenges would be on how we can convert it into competitive advantage,” he said.

Saleh claimed that he was optimistic for the future, with the support from the previous Minister, staffs, and stakeholders at the ESDM sector.

“I am convinced that with a goodwill, firmness, and transparency, we can deal with all challenges, solve all problems, and accelerate for what we have been waiting for,” Darwin Saleh committed.

After the ceremony, Darwin Saleh who was accompanied by his wife, Destiana Gianawati, went ahead to his office on the second floor of the Department of ESDM Main Building. As scheduled, he would have to attend a coordination meeting with the executives and directors at the Department of ESDM.