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