More than a Confidante

IN 2000, Rini Soemarno was CEO of Astra International, a company manufacturing a Japanese brand of cars and motorcycles, when she led her employees to stage a protest outside the office of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). This state agency was established to help refinance companies defaulting on their debts to the state. One way IBRA solved their debts problems was to auction the company's stocks. Rini and her workers demanded that IBRA refrain from selling 40 percent of Astra's stocks to foreign interests. It was an experience that was to change Rini's life.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was quite impressed by Rini leading the protests, which were covered thoroughly by the media. After she became president, replacing Abdurrahman Wahid, who was ousted by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Megawati called Rini and asker her to join her government. "I am Megawati Soekarnoputri. Do you want to help in the cabinet?" recounted Rini, about her first contact with Megawati.

August 12, 2014