IN MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR, WEST JAVA GOVERNOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001566

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR E. PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TBIO ID
SUBJECT: IN MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR, WEST JAVA GOVERNOR
WELCOMES COOPERATION

REF: JAKARTA 965 AND PREVIOUS

JAKARTA 00001566 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b+d.)


1. (C) SUMMARY: West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan welcomed
the Ambassador's offer to explore cooperation, particularly
in health, in an August 14 meeting in Bandung, the provincial
capital. Heryawan, who recently won the gubernatorial
election for the Islamic-oriented Prosperous Justice Party
(PKS) in a surprise, discussed his administration's programs
and priorities in Indonesia's largest province by population
(over 40 million residents). Bio information on Heryawan is
attached in para 6. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On August 14, Ambassador Hume called on Governor
Ahmad Heryawan at the Governor's residence in Bandung, West
Java, to discuss possible cooperation in the health sector.
With over 40 million residents, West Java is Indonesia's most
populous province. Heryawan took office June 13 after an
electoral victory called a "shock" by many observers in which
Indonesia's major parties lost to the Islamic-oriented PKS
(see reftels).


3. (C) The Ambassador expressed interest in the USG
cooperating with the West Java provincial government,
particularly in the health sector. The Ambassador explored
the possibility of working together on Avian Influenza (AI),
noting the existing U.S. and Singapore joint program on AI
with the city of Tangerang near Jakarta. The high
concentration of poultry and people in West Java makes it a
strategic place to focus cooperation on AI.


4. (C) The Governor welcomed cooperation in health.
Heryawan noted that West Java needs better education on AI
prevention. He also expressed particular interest in
improving maternal health and infant mortality. Heryawan
outlined his administration's new "village midwives" program
that aims to bring health expertise and services to villages.
He said the provincial government would be open to working
together in other areas as well, particularly in education,
the environment, and good governance.


5. (C) In response to a question, Heryawan outlined his
administration's program. The six focus areas are:

--Education: concentrating on information technology in
particular, the Governor's office signed an MOU with the
province's leading universities meant to strengthen
information technology resources and curricula;

--Health: improving healthcare services for the 70 percent of
West Java's population who live in villages;

--The economy: increasing the purchasing power and improving
work opportunities for the 65-70 percent of the population
that works in agriculture-related areas and 30-35 percent who
work in small and medium enterprises and manufacturing;

--Infrastructure;

--Public service provision; and,

--The environment.


6. (C) BIO INFORMATION: West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan
is a noted young PKS leader. Chair of the PKS Jakarta branch
from 2003-2006, he is currently chair of the PKS Jakarta
Advisory Council. His most recent position in elected office
was Deputy Speaker of the Jakarta Provincial Parliament
(DPRD),a post he held from 2002 until entering the West Java
Governor's race in early 2008. Heryawan received his
Bachelor's degree in Arabic from an Islamic college in
Jakarta and spent four years at a private college in Riyadh,

JAKARTA 00001566 002.2 OF 002


Saudi Arabia. He was born in 1966 in Sukabumi, West Java.

HUME