Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Monday appointed new officials to head some of the ministry's key directorates, which will be directly monitored by the President.

Yoopi Abimanyu will be in charge of the non-tax revenue and public services directorate and Agus Suprijant of the foreign loans and grants directorate.

"The strategic posts will be highly scrutinized by the public and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will directly observe their performance," Sri Mulyani said during Monday's ceremony.

The management of foreign loans and grants has long been in the spotlight, as the two financing alternatives have been the country's main instrument for funding infrastructure projects.

Critics have said the government often places itself in a weaker bargaining position in relation to lenders in determining terms and conditions of foreign loans.

"The challenge will be to have all officials participating in foreign debt policy making so everyone has a deeper understanding," she emphasized.

As of last year, Indonesia's total outstanding foreign debt stood at US$61.04 billion, with up to $7 billion due to be paid back this year.

Japan is currently the country's largest foreign lender.

Meanwhile, Sri Mulyani said the non-tax revenue and public service directorate needed a better information and administration system to perform efficiently.

In addition to the new directors, the finance minister also assigned Hadiyanto as a new member of the Government Trade Debt Committee.