Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has tapped Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, a seasoned technocrat and former coordinating minister for maritime affairs, to serve as Indonesia’s next ambassador to the United States, filling a post that has been vacant for two years.

Indroyono appeared before the House of Representatives’ Commission I on Saturday for a fit-and-proper test, as lawmakers began vetting 24 ambassadorial nominees and representatives to the United Nations.

The ambassadorial post in Washington, D.C., has remained unfilled since Rosan Roeslani stepped down on July 17, 2023, after being appointed deputy minister for state-owned enterprises under then-President Joko Widodo. Rosan, who is now serving as investment minister and CEO of Danantara, left a critical vacancy at a time when Jakarta and Washington face heightened trade tensions.

The Prabowo administration has faced mounting pressure to appoint a US envoy following tariff threats from the United States. In April, former President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 32 percent tariffs on Indonesian goods over alleged unfair trade practices, though the hikes were postponed until July 9 to allow negotiations for potential trade deals.

“Indroyono’s name was on the final list submitted by the government to the House,” said Deputy Chair of Commission I Budisatrio Djiwandono on Saturday at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, confirming the nominee after initial secrecy around the candidate.

Who is Indroyono Soesilo?

Born in Bandung on March 27, 1955, Indroyono is a respected geologist and academic. He earned his geology degree from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1979 before pursuing further studies in the United States, obtaining a master’s degree in remote sensing from the University of Michigan in 1981 and a PhD in geological remote sensing from the University of Iowa in 1987. He also completed specialized training in satellite ground station management in Canada in 1992.

Known for his academic rigor, Indroyono served as a lab and field assistant while studying at ITB, later joining the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) upon graduation.

His teaching career includes stints at Indonesia’s leading institutions, such as ITB, Universitas Indonesia, and the Army Command and Staff College (Seskoad). He has taught subjects ranging from geology and meteorology to civil engineering.

Indroyono’s government career spans decades. At BPPT, he rose from sub-directorate head to director before becoming director-general of research harmonization and ocean exploration at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in 1999. From 2001 to 2008, he led the Marine and Fisheries Research Agency, followed by a role as director of fisheries and aquaculture resources at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) from 2008 to 2011.

Under President Joko Widodo’s first term, Indroyono served as coordinating minister for maritime affairs before being replaced by Rizal Ramli. He later advised Tourism Minister Arief Yahya between 2015 and 2019.

Indroyono, who currently chairs the Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI), has received multiple awards for his contributions to science and the environment, including the Bintang Mahaputera Pratama in 2009, one of Indonesia’s highest civilian honors.

The appointment of Indroyono, with his extensive international and maritime background, comes at a crucial time for Indonesia-US relations as Jakarta seeks to navigate potential trade challenges while deepening strategic ties with Washington.

The government hopes Indroyono’s experience will help steer discussions on trade, investment, and maritime cooperation, which are key pillars in the bilateral relationship.

If confirmed by the House, Indroyono is expected to assume his post in Washington in the coming months, becoming a central figure in managing Indonesia’s diplomatic and economic engagement with the United States under President Prabowo’s administration.