Freeport Founder Dies at 82
AmCham Indonesia was saddened to learn of the death last week of James Robert “Jim Bob” Moffett, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Freeport-McMoRan Inc, at the age of 82.
A wildcatter and geologist, Moffett developed the Grasberg copper deposit in Indonesia and founded PT Freeport Indonesia. He built the parent company into a global powerhouse in mining during his two decades as CEO and three decades as chairman.
AmCham’s Chairman, Scott Hanna, remembers Moffett below.
Remembering ‘Mr Moffett’: a Sad Last ‘First’
By Scott Hanna, Chairman, AmCham Indonesia
James Robert Moffett passed away yesterday from COVID-19. The loss of his life reminds me of all the things he brought to mine. Known by many as “Jim Bob,” he was always Mr Moffett to me. Through Freeport-McMoRan and the Horatio Alger Association, I got my first suit, my first college scholarship, my first trip to our nation’s capital, and my first professional job. And, sadly, now Mr Moffett is the first person I knew closely to be taken by this terrible virus.
As part of being selected as a Horatio Alger National Scholar in high school, I was flown to Washington, DC for their annual ceremony. As the Chairman of the Association, Mr Moffett greeted each of the scholars, presented a medallion, and shook your hand. A former lineman at the University of Texas, he was an imposing figure, but it was his presence that was really larger than life.
Mr Moffett gave remarks at dinner that evening. As CEO of Freeport-McMoRan at the time, he described the mining operations in Indonesia during his talk and spoke about flying across a glacier near the mine. Like most seventeen-year-olds, I thought I knew it all. An icefield in Indonesia? I was sure this important man must be mistaken. I had grown up in a house so poorly heated that frost would accumulate in the closet, so I figured I was pretty much an expert about frozen water.
It turned out I was wrong; he was not mistaken at all. It was the first thing I learned from Mr Moffett, but certainly not the last.
Now more than sixteen years with the company, it would be impossible to capture all the unforgettable experiences. But one thing that stands out clearly is that every time I fly over that glacier, I am reminded of where this journey started and how much it has meant.
Thank you very much, Mr Moffett. May you rest in peace, sir.
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Jakarta Returns to Full PSBB
Jakarta has returned to full large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) from Jan 11 to 25, 2021, with active COVID-19 cases in the capital hitting 17,383. The order is contained in Governor Decree Number 19/2021 and Governor Regulation Number 3/2021.
Among the restrictions are:
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Start Wednesday
COVID-19 vaccinations will start on Wednesday, Jan 13, with President Joko Widodo being the first Indonesian to be vaccinated, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Panjaitan said today, Jan 11. After the president and his cabinet members, vaccination will be prioritized for medical workers.
President Joko said on Jan 10 that Indonesia has three million ready-to-use doses of the Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccine, and some have been distributed to the regions. He also said the vaccine used in the free mass-vaccination program has been declared halal by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
Also today, the Indonesian Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) announced the approval of emergency use authorization (EUA) for the CoronaVac vaccine, from Sinovac China. BPOM head Penny Lukito, through a virtual press conference, spoke on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. With 65.3 percent efficacy, the vaccine has met the World Health Organization’s 50 percent minimum efficacy standard. Penny hopes the vaccine can support the government’s national vaccination program.
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Ban on Foreigners Extended
The chairman of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery, Minister Airlangga Hartarto, has extended the ban on foreign citizens entering Indonesia for 14 days, from Jan 11 to 25. Exemptions apply for official visits and for holders of Indonesian residence permits.
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Further Domestic Travel Restrictions
The COVID-19 Task Force has issued Circular No 1/2021 concerning domestic travel restrictions during the pandemic, effective Jan 9-25, 2021. The rules apply to all private and public transportation, whether by air, rail, land or sea.
Air travel passengers must show a negative RT-PCR result taken a maximum of 72 hours, or antigen rapid test results taken within 48 hours before departure. Sea, private vehicle and rail travel are all required to show a negative RT-PCR test or non-reactive rapid antigen test with samples taken within a maximum period of three days prior to departure. Children under 12 years of age are not required to take the RT-PCR test or the rapid antigen test as a condition of travel.
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AmCham Cares: Starbucks
Starbucks employees in Indonesia have shown their support and appreciation for coffee farmers in the region. In June, they donated more than 4,000 handmade masks to protect against COVID-19. Every partner – store baristas and head office employees – contributed to make a handmade facial covering with a personal message inserted in the package.
For the first batch, more than 1,500 handmade masks were delivered by an 18-year-old partner, Andrea Siahaan, Senior General Manager, Public Relations and Communications, PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, to coffee farmers in Sumatra.
The following week, deliveries were made to coffee farmers in Bali. Indonesia is a key growing area for the premium Arabica coffee beans that Starbucks sources for some of its most beloved coffees, and this donation further emphasizes Starbucks commitment to giving back to coffee farmers and coffee-growing communities.
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Support Independent Journalism: Subscribe to The Jakarta Post
In these difficult times, our hometown English language newspaper, The Jakarta Post, is more important than ever. Given the difficulties of physical circulation and the economic slump, the Post needs to boost its online subscribers – a goal we heartily support at AmCham Indonesia. Quality English language news is vital for our businesses, our home offices and the flow of information out of Indonesia. It is for this reason, that we are urging all of our members and readers to subscribe to JP! Information is what will help get us through this crisis. Below is information about how to sign up.
JP Premium Digital Subscription Packages
https://www.thejakartapost.com/packages
Monthly subscription – Rp 50,000
Yearly subscription – Rp 600,000
We Still Need Your Support to Shelter the Front Line
AmCham Indonesia and Habitat for Humanity have joined forces in an initiative called Sheltering Those Who Care for Us, a program to provide temporary quarters in hotels for Indonesian medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our program has helped not only medical workers in Jakarta, but also Tangerang and Surabaya; we are now planning to expand to Sulawesi.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still spreading, medical workers are working a lot harder than before. In these difficult times, they often cannot go back home for fear of infecting family members or being rejected by their local communities. As a result, they are forced to sleep in hospitals without a proper bed, also increasing the possibility of getting infected.
By donating, we will increase the overall capability of Indonesia to treat COVID-19. Habitat will match individual hospitals with hotels on an as-needed basis.
Your support is needed more than ever.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FLYER ON HOW TO DONATE
Now is the Time to Join AmCham!
We offer a full slate of meetings, events and information for our community online. But we can only do this through the support of our members. If you are not yet an AmCham member, please join now.
AmCham Indonesia is open to all companies with an interest in US business relations and we have many non-American members. We are a community and we welcome you!
Reach us at [email protected] or click below!
AmCham Office and Events
The AmCham Office is on work from home status and all face-to-face meetings and events have been postponed. We are having a number of meetings online using the Zoom platform. You will be notified of virtual meetings as they are scheduled.
What is Your Company Doing on COVID-19?
Please let us know what measures your company may be taking in the form of donations and other assistance to help Indonesia during this time of confusion and concern. Contact [email protected] with your news. We would like to publicize the ways that our AmCham companies are pitching in.
Stay well
We urge you to send us press releases and other information that we can pass on to the broader AmCham community. If you have items of interest, please email material to [email protected]. Follow this link to information provided by the US Embassy
Stay safe, call a doctor if you have a high fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Stay healthy above all else.
AmCham Update is a regular newsletter on developments related to the pandemic crisis and other issues in Indonesia. It is edited by AmCham Managing Director A Lin Neumann and written by the AmCham Staff. Paul L Goddard is the Managing Editor.