Mari Elka Pangestu

Mari Elka Pangestu (traditional Chinese: 馮慧蘭; simplified Chinese: 冯慧兰; pinyin: Féng Huìlán; born 23 October 1956), who is currently serving as the Indonesian President's Special Advisor for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation, appointed by President Prabowo Subianto on 21 October 2024.

In early November 2024, she is appointed by President Prabowo Subianto as the Vice Chair of the National Economic Council of the Republic of Indonesia, serving with Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as the Chairman.

Earlier in her career, Pangestu worked at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta and was active over a long period in various trade forums such as PECC.

[11] Although she was respected in the WTO and international forums such as the G20, Pangestu often clashed with cabinet colleagues who wanted to protect domestic interests.

[16] The selection process went through various rounds and in late April 2013 eliminated all three candidates from the Asia-Pacific region; the role eventually went to Roberto Azevêdo.

[17] In December 2013, in recognition of her achievements as an economist and policymaker in Asia, Pangestu was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Australian National University (ANU).

[18] While visiting Canberra to receive the degree she recalled her years as a student in Australia when her father was academic staff member at the ANU.