Indonesia announces new cabinet, taps opposition, startup founder
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo has introduced his cabinet line-up for his second five-year term, which includes his main political rival and Gojek founder.

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) and his Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (L) give a press conference with media after the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at the House of Representative building, Jakarta, October 20, 2019. (Photo: VCG)

Prabowo Subianto, opposition leader in Widodo's first term and sole challenger in April's bitterly fought election, was named defense minister. While the co-founder of Indonesian ride-hailing and payments firm Gojek, Naidem Makiem, will serve as education and culture minister.

Former industry minister Airlangga Hartarto will head Widodo's economic team, and economist Sri Mulyani Indrawati has been retained as finance minister. The president's long-term ally Luhut Pandjaitan also retained his role as coordinating minister for maritime affairs, which includes natural resources sector and investment.

Widodo was sworn in on Sunday, October 20, for a second term. After a first term marked by heavy infrastructure spending, the 58-year-old has pledged to cut red tape, create jobs for young people, and to keep building infrastructure to underpin growth in southeast Asia's largest economy.