Kwik Kian Gie
Encyclopedia
Kwik Kian Gie (born 11 January 1935 in Juwana, Central Java
) was the Indonesian
Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance from 1999–2000, and Minister of National Development Planning from 2001-2004.
Kwik Kian Gie is a prominent Indonesian
economist
who often wrote columns in the liberal newspaper KOMPAS criticizing the policies of the Suharto administration in the late 1980s and 1990s. Following working in a teaching post in the Economics Department in the University of Indonesia
, he undertook further studies in the Nederlandse Economische hogeschool in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands
. After a few years working in the Netherlands following his graduation he returned to Indonesia and held several executive positions and became an entrepreneur
.
However, he maintained a strong interest in politics
and education
, and said to the press that, "I now have enough money to pay for anything I can wish for," and with that started his involvement with the PDI-P
opposition political party of Megawati Sukarnoputri
.
He also founded Institut Bisnis & Informatika Indonesia (IBII), a well-known business/management school in Indonesia, with his colleagues.
During the rise of Megawati Sukarnoputri he was mentioned as a possible candidate for the important post of Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance. He was appointed to the position by Abdurrahman Wahid
in the Wahid Cabinet
in October 1999. However, various political hurdles prevented him from making much progress during his term in office. He was later moved to the position of Minister of National Development and Planning. His period as minister was seen by some as a disappointment due to the hype that he was regarded as failing to live up to. He is well-known for being outspoken and is regarded as an honest politician and economist although his writings are sometimes considered controversial.
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
) was the Indonesian
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance from 1999–2000, and Minister of National Development Planning from 2001-2004.
Kwik Kian Gie is a prominent Indonesian
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who often wrote columns in the liberal newspaper KOMPAS criticizing the policies of the Suharto administration in the late 1980s and 1990s. Following working in a teaching post in the Economics Department in the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
, he undertook further studies in the Nederlandse Economische hogeschool in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. After a few years working in the Netherlands following his graduation he returned to Indonesia and held several executive positions and became an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
However, he maintained a strong interest in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and said to the press that, "I now have enough money to pay for anything I can wish for," and with that started his involvement with the PDI-P
Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle
The Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle is an Indonesian political party. It is led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesian independence leader and first president Sukarno. Megawati was President of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004...
opposition political party of Megawati Sukarnoputri
Megawati Sukarnoputri
In this Indonesian name, the name "Sukarnoputri" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name "Megawati"....
.
He also founded Institut Bisnis & Informatika Indonesia (IBII), a well-known business/management school in Indonesia, with his colleagues.
During the rise of Megawati Sukarnoputri he was mentioned as a possible candidate for the important post of Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance. He was appointed to the position by Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
in the Wahid Cabinet
National Unity Cabinet
The National Unity Cabinet was the Indonesian Cabinet which served under President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri from 26 October 1999 until 23 July 2001. The Cabinet was formed after Wahid and Megawati were elected President and Vice President by the People's...
in October 1999. However, various political hurdles prevented him from making much progress during his term in office. He was later moved to the position of Minister of National Development and Planning. His period as minister was seen by some as a disappointment due to the hype that he was regarded as failing to live up to. He is well-known for being outspoken and is regarded as an honest politician and economist although his writings are sometimes considered controversial.