Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson wants to speak to Indonesian President Joko Widodo . Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson has written a heartfelt letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo pleading for him to save the lives of those facing the death penalty in the southeast Asian country . The British businessman , who 's also a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy , said he was willing to go to Indonesia in an effort to save those facing execution . Sir Richard , along with other Global Drug Commissioners , wrote to President Joko urging clemency for all drug convicts currently on death row in Indonesia , including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . The letter , which described the death penalty as inhumane , said the drug trade remained unaffected by the threat of capital punishment . 'Countries that still carry out executions for drug offences have not seen any significant shifts in supply and demand , ' he wrote . The Virgin boss pleaded : 'Mr . President , we hope you will consider our plea and spare those named above this ultimate and irreversible punishment . 'Granting clemency would be a humane and righteous act , and a first step towards sensible reform that could become a shining example for the entire Asian region . ' Sir Richard told the ABC he was willing to get on a plane bound for Indonesia as early as Wednesday . 'What we would love to do is speak with the president of Indonesia and try to give them a way forward , a positive way forward for its country , ' the entrepreneur told the ABC on Wednesday morning . Sir Richard , along with other Global Drug Commissioners , wrote to President Joko urging clemency for all drug convicts currently on death row in Indonesia . Sir Richard posted this photo of him writing the letter to President Widodo on his Virgin website . Australians Andrew Chan , left , and Muyran Sukumaran are seen here during aChristmas celebration at Kerobokan prison in 2008 . They have been locked up in the prison for 10 years and are now facing the firing squad any day . 'We have written to the president saying if he will have us we would love to come and talk ... we want to be as constructive as possible . 'All we 're saying is there is a better approach . ' ' I am willing to go and get on a plane today , tomorrow ... as are a number of the other commissioners , ' he said . He said research showed it was better to 'treats drugs as a health issue not as a criminal issue ' . 'It actually helps lower the number of drug deaths , it limits the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and AIDS or hepatitis C , and it reduces drug-related crime , ' he said . Sir Richard wants the chance to show President Widodo 'there is a better approach ' to handling drug convicts than killing them . Sir Richard posted his letter to President Widodo , which said 'the death penalty removes any chance of forgiveness for the remorseful ' , on Twitter . 'Bali Nine ' enforcer Myuran Sukumaran ( left ) and ringleader Andrew Chan have been locked up in Bali for ten years and have now been moved to their place of execution by firing squad . Sukumaran ( centre ) and Chan are awaiting the outcomes of appeals made by other prisoners who are scheduled to be executed alongside them . Chan converted to Christianity and became a pastor while behind bars and carried a bible with him when he was transported to the Indonesian death island on Wednesday . Sir Richard 's call comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott continues to plead for the lives of Chan and Sukumaran . The two Bali Nine ringleaders are in isolation on the Indonesian penal island of Nusakambangan , awaiting the outcome of legal appeals against their execution . Mr Abbott is waiting to hear whether his request to speak again to President Joko about the fate of the two Australians will be accepted . Family members of Australian death row prisoners Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran visited Nusakambangan prison island , off Central Java on March 9 . This photo shows seven foreign death row prisoners in Indonesia who are awaiting execution by firing squad in Nusakambangan prison island . Top row from left , Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan , Frenchman Serge Atlaoui and Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte . Bottom row from left . Nigerian Raheem Agbaje Salami , Filipina Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso , and Nigerian Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise .
Sir Richard is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy . The commission has written to President Widodo ##w for a meeting . ' All we 're saying is there is a better approach , ' Sir Richard said . ` he is ready to get on a plane to fly to Indonesia . Australian 's Andrew ##kumar and Myuran Sukumaran are awaiting execution . Eight other convicts will also be killed on offshore island Nusakambangan .