Muhammad Lutfi

Muhammad Lutfi studied economics at Purdue University and developed a business career before entering public service. He chaired the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association and later served as chairman of Medco Energi Internasional. In 2005, he became head of the Investment Coordinating Board, followed by the ambassadorship to Japan from 2010 to 2013 and a first term as trade minister in 2014. ¹

Lutfi returned to diplomacy as ambassador in Washington in 2020, making trade preferences and investment central to his agenda. When the United States completed its review and retained Indonesia’s eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences that autumn, he announced plans to help Indonesian exporters make fuller use of the tariff benefits. The decision followed work by the Indonesian government and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as well as the embassy. ^{1, 2}

His American assignment lasted only a few months. Reappointed trade minister in December 2020, he emphasized restoring purchasing power, maintaining the supply of goods during the pandemic, and improving export opportunities. President Joko Widodo replaced him in June 2022 amid a national cooking oil shortage and criticism of the government’s response, including a temporary palm oil export ban. ^{3, 4}