Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan has praised the boards of directors of Garuda Indonesia, Mandiri Bank and BRI for being able to bring about a transformation in their corporate businesses amid the global economic crisis.

"The success achieved by the three state-owned companies is to be mainly attributed to the capability of their CEOs," the minister said at a seminar here on Tuesday.

He said the figures behind the success of the three state-owned companies (BUMN) were Garuda Indonesia president director Emirsyah Satar, former Mandiri Bank president director Agus Martowardoyo, who was now minister of finance and BRI Bank president director Sofyan Basyir.

"They deserve appreciation as well as awards in view of their courageous actions and ideas to advance their companies," he said.

The minister said it would take CEOs with extra capability to improve state-owned companies. "It is difficult to find figures who are fit and have complete capabilities to lead state-owned companies that now number 142," he said.

The former president director of state-owned electricity company PT PLN said many people had capabilities and expertise but not many could prevent intervention from inside and outside the companies.

"Many people who have remarkable educational backgrounds have been appointed to lead BUMNs but they are often hindered by bureaucracy," he said.

In response to the appreciation Emirsyah Satar said what he has done so far is just part of his efforts to improve the company. "Every decision he made is for changing Garuda to become better," he said.

He said to improve the state-owned airline company he has not only conducted internal improvements but also tried to give information transparently.

He said when he faced challenges when he was trying to improve procurement of goods and services in the company.

"But so long as it was for the progress of the company I have never seen them as obstacles," he said.

Emirsyah said transparency was very important for improving a company. "If the company loses we must tell it so. Nothing must be covered up. And what has made the company to lose and measures that are to be taken by the management must also be made known to the public," he said.
(Uu.R017/H-YH/HAJM/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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