TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir exposed his reasons for appointing Triawan Munaf as the chief commissioner of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. He considered Triawan a strong figure in the creative industry sector so that expected to create innovations.

“In this era, Garuda’s competition is not only about aircraft,” said Erick at the Defense Ministry building, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 22.

Erick said that the state-owned firm must develop the technology for the airlines to deal with global business competition. Thus, the company will further design several implementations in the sector.

Triawan was named Garuda chief commissioner during the shareholders’ extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, January 22.

When asked for confirmation, the former chief of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) claimed the appointment had been set since the end of last year.

“I have been asked by Pak Erick a long time ago, perhaps in the last year’s end,” said Triawan on Wednesday, January 22.

According to him, he had communicated and even met with Erick Thohir a few times to discuss the national airlines.

Triawan Munaf stated that he had drafted plans to improve Garuda Indonesia and focused on the enhancement of the corporate’s teamwork and the crew’s morals.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA