Jusuf Kalla is the only Indonesian vice-president in history to have been able to serve his country twice. He is regarded as an efficient and influential statesman, and an excellent peacemaker who has been able to mend national and world conflicts.

Kalla played a critical role as a negotiator in the Poso conflicts between Muslims and Christians in his homeland of Sulawesi. He initiated talks for peace in Aceh, resulting in the Helsinki Agreement, which ended 30 years of armed conflict in 2005. He was also involved in peace talks between Afghanistan, the Taliban and the US, which resulted in the agreement to remove foreign troops from the country.

Kalla is active in welfare issues, maintaining his role as Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross Society and Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council. Formerly, President Wahid appointed him to serve as the Minister of Industry and Trade; from 2001-2004, Kalla was the Co-ordinating Minister for Welfare.

Kalla graduated in Economics at the University of Hasanuddin, Makassar, and soon after began working with the family business NV (Namlozee Venonchamp) Hadji Kalla to revive its stature amid bleak economic times. Today, the company is widely known as the Kalla Group.