Jakarta. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Monday congratulated his former deputy, Thomas Djiwandono, following Thomas’s official appointment as Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, but brushed off calls to offer advice on the new role.

“Why should I? He’s smarter than me,” Purbaya joked after the swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court of Indonesia in Jakarta.

Instead, Purbaya said he hoped Thomas would help strengthen policy coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities to support economic growth.

“Congratulations to Mr. Thomas on his new position. Hopefully at Bank Indonesia he can play a bigger role in shaping the right policies for stronger economic growth going forward,” Purbaya said.

Thomas, who is also a nephew of President Prabowo Subianto, previously served as vice finance minister from 2024. His father, Soedradjad Djiwandono, was Bank Indonesia governor from 1993 to 1998 during the presidency of Soeharto, while his mother, Biantiningsih Miderawati, is Prabowo’s older sister.

Thomas was selected by the House of Representatives to replace outgoing deputy governor Juda Agung after prevailing over two other candidates: Solikin Juhro, head of Bank Indonesia’s Macroprudential Policy Department, and Diky Kartikoyono, head of its Payment Systems Policy Department.