Robert O. Blake Retires; New US Ambassador to Indonesia Nominated  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Obama has nominated Joseph R. Donovan Jr. to be America`s next Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia.

Robert O. Blake, Jr. served his last full day as ambassador on Monday, July 18, and is heading back to the United States and retiring from the foreign service.

Ambassador Designee Joseph R. Donovan, Jr., a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the Managing Director of the Washington Office of the American Institute in Taiwan, a position he has held since 2014.

Previously, Mr. Donovan served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon from 2012 to 2014, Associate Professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2012, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State from 2009 to 2011. He was the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong from 2008 to 2009, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan from 2005 to 2008, and Director of the Department of State's Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs from 2003 to 2005.

Prior to that, Mr. Donovan was Political Section Chief at the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan from 2000 to 2003 and Political/Military Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan from 1997 to 2000.

Earlier assignments in the Foreign Service include posts in Taiwan, China, South Korea and Qatar. Before joining the Foreign Service, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Seoul, South Korea.

Mr. Donovan received a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and an M.A. from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

Ambassador Blake`s Farewell Speech

In his last speech to the people of Indonesia, Ambassador Blake made a strong case for more rather than less "positive internationalism" in a time of slower growth and threats to global security.

He praised Indonesia's moderate Islamic traditions and groups, its acceptance of refugees, as well as its role in international peace keeping operations, where it is the 11th largest contributor.

Furthermore, its G20 membership and embrace of free trade principles and the digital economy are all key elements in maintaining Indonesia central role in southeast Asia.

Other key points:

• Governance - Domestic trends in Indonesia suggest that Indonesia's best days lie ahead.  A new generation of young Indonesian leaders like President Jokowi himself, Governor Ahok, Mayors Ridwan Kamil in Bandung, and Bu Risma in Surabaya, are pioneering new models of good governance, and innovations in smart city and internet-based technologies that have potentially transformative impacts if fully implemented.

• Generational Change - a new generation of business leaders is emerging, many of whom have been educated in the U.S.  They have an outward looking orientation, confidence in a stronger role for Indonesia, and the experience to begin investing overseas and raising Indonesia's profile at global gatherings such as the World Economic Forum.

• Four Suggestions for Growth

1.Education: Insure funds are spent wisely and in ways that upgrade capacity at all levels to insure skills are developed to help Indonesia compete in the 21st century globalized economy, especially in the fields of digital and creative economy, renewable energy, and information technology.  More attention should be paid to partnerships and training with the private sector, use of online open courses, and part-time instructors.

2.Connectivity: Accelerate the development of all infrastructure especially broadband IT.  Access to the internet can be the key to increasing productivity and overcoming the "barriers of distance and poverty".

3.Business environment: Although progress is being made to eliminate many unnecessary regulations and streamline permitting too many regulations limit ownership stakes or mandate specific investments as the price of doing business and therefore encourage investors to look elsewhere.  Indonesia can do a better job of making sure existing investors "have a good story to tell", that they are not victimized by overzealous officials or are not merely seen as targets for rent seeking activities.  A welcoming attitude towards investment and technology transfer must be offered to foreign professionals; too many foreign companies have a growing difficulty getting work permits. In today's globalized world, investments go to those countries that are the most welcoming.

4.Judicial reform: Public trust in the police, prosecutors, and judges is very low, undermining attempts to increase growth above 5%. The recent investigations and arrests in the Supreme Court administration have tarnished the reputation of the Indonesian legal system and underline concerns that legal decisions are influenced by money and power and not by the facts of cases and the law.  Too much of the country's legal system is "for sale" and lacks transparency.  Indonesia would do well to facilitate easier access to international arbitration, and require all court decisions to be written and published in a timely manner.  Corrupt judges need to be severely punished and the bar association should exercise "greater professionalism and better supervise its members. "  Empowering an independent Judicial Commission to make enforceable decisions in cases of judicial and attorney misbehavior would be another positive step.

• US-Indonesia Relations: Relations have never been better following the upgrading in October 2015 to a Strategic Partnership.  A decision to join TPP would not only be a tremendous boost to the partnership but would also increase Indonesia's competitiveness and open new markets and job opportunities.  The US and Indonesia should maintain and grow its bilateral programs in: education (send more students to the US), law enforcement cooperation to fight terrorism, increase military cooperation in support of Indonesia's maritime "domain awareness", accelerate mutual efforts to fight climate change by moving more towards renewable energy, and work together to eliminate illegal fishing and create protected areas for vital marine habitats.

TEMPO