Suahasil Nazara’s Academic Journey Leads to Finance Minister Post

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially appointed Suahasil Nazara as Minister of Finance at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The President selected Suahasil --an academic by background and former Deputy Minister of Finance--to succeed Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.

Suahasil first assumed the role of Deputy Minister of Finance on October 25, 2019, under President Joko Widodo. At that time, he worked alongside his colleague from the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who served as Minister of Finance.

Following the change of administration, Suahasil was reappointed as Deputy Minister of Finance in the Red and White Cabinet. He was inaugurated on October 21, 2024, to assist the Minister of Finance in carrying out the ministry’s duties.

Before entering government, Suahasil built his career in academia. He became a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (FEB UI) in 1999 and advanced rapidly, earning the title of Professor of Economics in 2009.

At the University of Indonesia, he held several key positions. Suahasil served as Head of the Postgraduate Economics Study Program at FEB UI (2004–2005), Head of the Demographic Institute at FEB UI (2005–2008), and Chair of the Department of Economics at FEB UI (2009–2013).

His academic experience progressed alongside his involvement in public policy. From 2009 to 2011, Suahasil served as a member of the Finance Minister’s Assistance Team for Fiscal Decentralization.

From 2009 to 2015, he served as Vice Chair of the Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of Regional Autonomy. From 2010 to 2015, he was Coordinator of the Policy Working Group at the Secretariat of the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction.

He also served on the National Economic Committee from 2013 to 2014, further strengthening his role in economic and fiscal policymaking.

Suahasil’s career at the Ministry of Finance reached a significant milestone on October 31, 2016, when he was inaugurated as Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency. On October 25, 2019, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance, a position he held until his appointment as Minister of Finance on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Suahasil graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Indonesia, earning his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1994.

He continued his studies at Cornell University in the United States, earning a Master of Science degree in 1997, and later completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003.

Suahasil’s extensive experience in academia, fiscal policy, and the Ministry of Finance has culminated in his appointment to the ministry’s top position. (Misni Parjiati)