Who is he?

Budi Bowoleksono served as secretary general of the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2013. He previously served as ambassador to Kenya, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Uganda, and represented Indonesia at the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Why is he in the news?

On September 4, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono submitted a list of 22 ambassadorial candidates to the Indonesian House of Representatives. Budi was proposed as the next ambassador to the United States, replacing outgoing ambassador Dino Patti Djalal, who has served since 2010. Dino resigned his post on September 15 to compete for the presidential nomination of President Yudohoyono’s Democrat Party ahead of 2014 national elections. Budi is expected to be confirmed soon.

What can we expect from him?

A seasoned diplomat, Budi will be expected to maintain the high-level cooperation that has come to define the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, and elevate Indonesia’s profile in the United States.

While U.S.-Indonesia diplomatic and defense relations are better than they have ever been, Budi will face the task of boosting bilateral trade and investment, and maintaining momentum in the bilateral relationship through Indonesia’s 2014 parliamentary and presidential elections when a new administration will take power in Jakarta.