Ignasius Jonan Explained

Ignasius Jonan
Office:17th Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
Term Start:14 October 2016
Term End:20 October 2019
President:Joko Widodo
Predecessor:Arcandra Tahar
Successor:Arifin Tasrif
Office1:37th Minister of Transportation
President1:Joko Widodo
Term Start1:27 October 2014
Term End1:27 July 2016
Predecessor1:E.E. Mangindaan
Successor1:Budi Karya Sumadi
Birth Date:1963 6, df=yes
Birth Place:British Singapore
Nationality:Indonesian
Spouse:Ratnawati Jonan
Children:2
Education:St Louis 1 School
Alma Mater:Airlangga University (Drs.)
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (M.A.)
Tufts University (M.A.)
Occupation:Indonesian Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources

Ignasius Jonan (born 21 June 1963) is an Indonesian professional who was the Indonesian Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources[1] serving under President Joko Widodo's administration. He is a former Indonesian Minister of Transportation and a former CEO of the Indonesian government-owned railway company, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT. KAI) which he headed from 2009 to 2014.[2]

Born in Singapore, Jonan received his Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Airlangga University, Surabaya in 1986, and his M.A. in International Relations and Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Tufts University in 2005. He started his professional career in the banking sector, holding a managing director role and investment banking head in Citigroup Indonesia, before entering the public transportation sector in 2009.[3] He was named by Sofyan Djalil, the then-Minister of State-owned Enterprises, to lead P.T. Kereta Api Indonesia.

Early life and education

Jonan was born on 21 June 1963 in Singapore. He grew up in Surabaya, graduating from St. Louis 1 Catholic High School in the city. He later graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Airlangga University's School of Business and Economics in 1985. He took executive and management programs between 1999 and 2000 from Columbia Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Jonan received his Master's degree in International Relations in 2005 from the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Career

Jonan started his career as an accountant and investment manager. In 1999, he became Director for Private Equity at Citigroup branch in Indonesia. Two years later, he was appointed CEO of the government-owned investment firm, PT. Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia, assuming the role until 2006. From 2006 to 2009, he was promoted by Citi as Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking for Indonesia.[4]

PT KAI

Jonan was appointed head of P.T. Kereta Api Indonesia in 2009, during the railway company's output and financial troubles. He faced various problems including PT. KAI's 27,000 employees with low expectations in terms of work quality, a financial deficit (in 2008, it lost Rp 82.6 billion), and a high percentage of substandard or broken locomotives, diesel trains, freight cars, and crumbling stations.[5] In a speech for the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club, Jonan blamed the low train fares as a cause for the railway system's poor service and crowdedness.[6]

Within 5 years, he overturned the public perception of the failing Indonesian rail transportation system. The company was able to increase passenger ridership by 50% in 2014 compared to when Jonan took up the role in 2009. Freight loads have also doubled to nearly 30 million tons per year.[7]

Transport minister

On 26 October 2014, the newly-elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo named him as the 37th Minister of Transportation. Within this capacity, Jonan had wanted to ban ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab in 2015 citing existing regulations, but he was overridden by Widodo.[8] In 2016, he again threatened a ban on the apps as they had not formally registered as taxi operators with the government.[9]

Following the crash of Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 in 2014, Jonan alleged that budget airlines in Indonesia had been endangering passenger safety due to cost-cutting measures.[10]

Energy and Mineral Resources minister

On 27 July 2016, President Joko Widodo removed Jonan from his post in a cabinet reshuffle.[11] In response to the reshuffle, Ignasius Jonan, with a flat face, said, "I will come back". On 14 October 2016, the president appointed Ignasius Jonan again, but as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources with Arcandra Tahar as his deputy.[12]

Honours

National

Foreign honours

References

  1. News: Jokowi Announces Names of Cabinet Members. 16 April 2016. Tempo. 26 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Ignasius Jonan, Mimpi Bawa PT KAI Sekelas Perusahaan Eropa . 16 April 2016. 11 July 2014.
  3. Web site: Menteri Perhubungan Ignasius Jonan, Dari Akuntan ke Profesional di Sektor Transportasi Publik. 12 November 2014. Ciputra-UCEO.
  4. Web site: Executive Profile - Ignasius Jonan. 6 May 2016. Bloomberg.
  5. Web site: Newsmaker Interview: Ignasius Jonan. Silaban. Mary. 2 October 2014. American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia.
  6. News: Bland . Ben . “Only god” could make do on these rail fares, complains Indonesia rail chief . 10 February 2022 . Financial Times . 10 September 2014.
  7. Web site: On the Rails with Ignasius Jonan. Schonhardt. Sara. 29 September 2014. Wall Street Journal.
  8. News: Chilkoti . Avantika . Indonesia backtracks on ride-hailing rules . 10 February 2022 . Financial Times . 18 December 2015.
  9. News: Chilkoti . Avantika . Indonesia threatens to ban ride-hailing apps . 10 February 2022 . Financial Times . 31 March 2016.
  10. News: Bland . Ben . Jakarta warns AirAsia affiliate over negative equity . 10 February 2022 . Financial Times . 3 July 2015.
  11. Web site: Ditanya Soal Reshuffle, Jonan: Saya Mau Pergi, Nanti Balik Lagi . 27 July 2016.
  12. Web site: Jonan menjadi Menteri ESDM, Arcandra wakilnya . Hanni Sofia Soepardi . 14 October 2016.
  13. Web site: Media. Kompas Cyber. 2020-11-10. Susi Pudjiastuti, Ignasius Jonan, dan Rudiantara Akan Dianugerahi Bintang Mahaputera. KOMPAS.com. id. 2023-04-03.
  14. Web site: Penyematan Penghargaan Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur kepada Bapak Ignasius Jonan, Menteri Perhubungan Indonesia. La France en Indonésie, au Timor oriental et auprès de l’ASEAN. id. 2023-07-23.
  15. Web site: 令和4年秋の外国人叙勲 受章者名簿. November 3, 2022. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  16. Web site: 2022-11-10. Empat Tokoh Indonesia Dapat Anugerah Bintang Jasa Jepang. Republika Online. id. 2023-04-03.
  17. https://rm.id/baca-berita/nasional/197331/ignasius-jonan-terima-penghargaan-dari-paus Ignasius Jonan terima gelar Ksatria Ordo Santo Gregorius Agung