Prof. Dr. J. E. Ismael completed his term of service as IMF Executive Director for Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and Vietnam, on October 31, 1996. He also serves as a full professor under Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia. He was the head of Economics Department under the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia from 1968-1970.
He was a prolific economists with many experiences in national and international organizations. He also was a close colleague of Prof. Dr. Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo. One of their books titled, “The government, economy, and taxes of a central Javanese village” (1959) has been translated by Norbert Ward and published by Cornell University.