In addition, the demographic bonus can also lead to a positive impact on economic development and progress in the fields of agriculture and industry.
Hence, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has encouraged the public, especially the younger generation, to have quality, ability, and expertise in all fields.
In light of this, the government and the younger generation must be prepared for the demographic bonus, which is predicted to happen after 2020 when the number of people in the productive age will be higher than the elderly and children.
According to the finance minister, the investment in human resources, such as education and health, is the key to realizing a quality young population.
In addition, there is also a need for efforts from the government to cut the poverty line, so that people from poor family groups do not later remain poor.
Hence, Sri Mulyani noted that the policies in the field of education that have been mandated, the health sector, and the field of social safety nets to prepare bonus demography can be something that have a positive impact.
Sri Mulyani also highlighted a sustainable social security system as one of the things that must be created to prepare for the aging populations.
It means that the former millennial group will include senior citizens as well, and at that time, they would need health facilities and others, she remarked.
In the meantime, senior economist and former Economic Coordinating Minister, Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, said that Indonesia would not lack labor and markets until 2050.
Until 2050, Indonesia`s population of around 60 percent will comprise the working age population, so that the country will not lack markets and labor, he noted.
The demographic bonus that will occur in Indonesia is a good capital that will help in the development of the creative economy sector in the country.
The more the number of people of productive age in Indonesia and the more the number of internet users, the ability and idea to create value-added products with high quality would also be more.
The strength of Indonesia`s creative economy is more attractive as it is supported by demographic bonus and high penetration of internet users.
Furthermore, the creative economy sector is expected to be the mainstay of Indonesia`s sustainable sector that should be developed in the future.
Research Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir remarked that he would prepare ways to optimize the demographic bonus that will happen in Indonesia from 2020 to 2045.
Demographic bonus is related to the productive age population between 15 and 45 years old whose number is higher than, of 67 percent of the elderly people, according to the minister.
The key to utilizing the demographic bonus is that the Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education is because of a mission to build Indonesia through competitiveness, he noted.
Demographic bonus can have a positive impact on national development as long as correct economic policies are put in place, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has stated.
The growth of population in a country may not always prove to be a burden as long as its government is able to implement a development policy, Kalla explained.
China`s big population in the past was considered a burden, but now the country has realized that a huge population could be made productive and, at the same time, can become consumers, Kalla explained, citing Singapore and China as examples.
India has also based its policy on the same idea that a large population could be made an asset that works in favor of the country`s development.
In view of that, it is expected that the huge population of Indonesia should become a factor in pushing for national development.
Hence, the 255 million population of the country must be turned into a workforce with high productivity and, at the same time, as consumers. It all depends upon how to manage the population to make it an asset rather than a liability.
Coordinating Minister for Human Empowerment and Culture Puan Maharani has noted that the rate of population growth in Indonesia is still high, standing at 4.5 million births per year.
That has been the average figure over the past 10 years. Unless it is controlled by 2035, the country`s population could reach 450 million, according to her.
In 2045, it is expected that 75 percent of Indonesian youths between 19 and 23 years of age would be studying at top educational institutes.
Therefore, the momentum of demographic bonus must be utilized by the people of productive age who are knowledgeable and highly innovative. This is the importance of development of education to create a golden generation in 2045.
As Indonesia has a high rate of population explosion, transmigration program remains important in the country, as it has been proven to have made considerable contribution to economic growth in various scarcely populated areas.
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
