Death of Dr Hadi Soesastro

“With the passing of Dr Hadi Soesastro, Indonesia has lost one of its most eminent thinkers, and a great friend to Australia,” Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said today.

Dr Soesastro, a founder of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and economic observer, passed away yesterday in Jakarta.

“The Australian Government extends its sympathies to Indonesia and to Dr Soesastro’s wife, Janti Solihin, and their two sons,” Mr Farmer said.

Dr Soesastro was a regular visitor to Australia, and only last year was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Australian National University for his outstanding contributions to thinking and policy in the fields of international economics, economic reform in Indonesia and international economic relations, particularly with Australia and the East Asian region.

He was a noted commentator on regional issues and, at the time of his death, was actively participating in the advisory council of the Economic Research group for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) as well as the Expert Group for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA).

“Australia is grateful for Dr Soesastro’s extensive contributions to Australia-Indonesia relations, regional integration and, of course, to Indonesia’s remarkable transition to a vibrant democracy and the resumption of its natural role as a regional leader,” Mr Farmer said.

“Dr Soesastro will be sorely missed,” he said.

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