Jakarta – James T. Riady, Coordinating Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia), expressed support for Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin’s candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). James said Budi’s experience leading Indonesia’s healthcare transformation, combined with his background in technology, banking, and corporate management, provides an important foundation for contributing to global health.

James conveyed his support at the Kadin Monthly Economic Diplomacy Breakfast, held at Leimena Hall, Adhyatma Building, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, on Friday (October 9, 2026). The forum brought together the government, business community, and diplomatic community to discuss strengthening the national healthcare system, regional resilience, and Indonesia’s contribution at the global level.

According to James, the President submitted Budi’s nomination in May. He expressed pride in the opportunity for an Indonesian figure to take on broader responsibilities in addressing global health challenges.

“We are very proud because we have also traveled with him. We know that he has not only been well received, but is also very popular across various continents,” James said, referring to his experience accompanying Budi on several international trips.

The event was attended by Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Kadin Indonesia Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie, ambassadors, and business representatives. Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir was represented by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who conveyed the minister’s greetings and the ministry’s support for Budi’s candidacy.

James said the world needs leadership capable of bridging diverse interests amid polarization and socioeconomic pressures. In healthcare, the challenges include financing, service management, the use of technology, and expanding access for the public.

He sees Budi’s background, which differs from that of many healthcare leaders, as a strength. His experience in technology and banking, as well as his work in state-owned enterprises, has given him a broad perspective on healthcare, including its economic dimensions and the capacity of organizations to deliver services.

James recalled that, during his banking career, Budi sought to understand the needs of the business community. According to James, Budi was accustomed to examining how support for companies and individuals could help businesses grow while contributing to Indonesia’s development.

That experience, James added, also shaped Budi’s approach to leading the healthcare sector. As a businessperson who helped build the Siloam Hospitals network, James said this approach brings a fresh perspective to understanding healthcare challenges and the need for change.

“It is precisely this background that enables him to view healthcare services broadly and deeply, from a very unique perspective,” he said.

James highlighted Budi’s transformation agenda, which covers primary healthcare, referral services, health resilience, and financing. He hopes this experience will contribute to broader discussions on how healthcare systems around the world are financed, organized, digitized, and expanded to reach more people.

For this reason, James invited Budi to use the forum to discuss issues beyond domestic developments. He hopes the diplomatic and business communities will have the opportunity to hear Budi’s views on the global health situation and potential measures to improve it.

“We want to hear not only about Indonesia, but also about the global health situation and what can be done,” James said.

He also underscored the importance of partnerships that deliver tangible results. According to James, this principle underpins Kadin’s engagement with the government and international community: bringing together knowledge, technology, investment, and implementation capacity to address public needs.

Support for Budi’s candidacy was also expressed by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his remarks, he said the ministry and Indonesia’s diplomatic missions around the world supported Budi’s bid to become WHO Director-General.

“At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with all our missions around the world, we support Mr. Budi in being entrusted with this responsibility,” he said.

He said Indonesia’s experience in strengthening health resilience demonstrates the importance of effective leadership. In his presentation, he highlighted the acceleration of the vaccination program and reforms to the healthcare system under Budi’s leadership.

According to him, the nomination reflects Indonesia’s commitment to global health cooperation and its belief that multilateralism is an important means of addressing shared challenges. The pandemic demonstrated that health security cannot be achieved through the efforts of a single country alone.

He explained that Indonesia’s health diplomacy is, among other things, aimed at promoting equitable access to vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics, alongside meaningful technology transfer. Other priorities include strengthening global health governance and developing sustainable financing mechanisms that support the needs of individual countries.

For James, Indonesia’s participation in global health leadership aligns with the need to strengthen the connection between healthcare and economic diplomacy. The pharmaceutical industry, medical technology, artificial intelligence, research, and the development of expert talent increasingly depend on cross-border cooperation.

“Healthcare is not merely a social issue. It is also about human capital, productivity, resilience, investment, and technology, and it is increasingly intertwined with international cooperation,” he said.

Through his support for Budi’s candidacy, James hopes Indonesia’s experience and capabilities will benefit people around the world.

“We pray that God will use him to change the world,” he said.