Jakarta, Dec 1 (ANTARA News) - Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto stated that the government is encouraging the empowerment of millennial generation human resources, which are considered very important in implementing industry 4.0.

"Industry 4.0 encourages the government to empower human talents. Hence, it is encouraged to focus on strengthening our young generation with technology and innovation," Hartarto stated in a press release in Jakarta on Saturday.

The minister stated this during a speech at the Creative Industries Movement event in Denpasar on Saturday (Dec 1).

On the occasion, Hartarto remarked that the millennial generation plays an important role in industry 4.0, especially considering that Indonesia will also enjoy a demographic bonus period until 2030. That is, as many as 130 million productive-aged people can take new opportunities to develop business in the digital era.

"From the experience of other countries, such as China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, when experiencing a demographic bonus, economic growth will be high. Therefore, Indonesia needs to take the momentum of the golden age by continuing to build a spirit of optimism," he explained.

In order to prepare the millennial generation of Indonesia, which is able to face the era of industry 4.0, the Ministry of Industry has facilitated, through several incubators owned, to grow creative industry players, because the creative industry sectors are able to make a significant contribution to the national economy.

Until now, the Ministry of Industry has built an incubation building for startups in several regions in Indonesia, including Bandung Techno Park, Bali Creative Industry Center (BCIC), Business Incubator Center in Semarang, Makassar Technopark, and Mobile Design Center in Batam.

"This place can be an inspiration and aspiration to grow new industrial entrepreneurs," he added.

In Bandung Techno Park and BCIC, for example, the Ministry of Industry has a number of current programs, including training for prospective corporate leaders using industry 4.0 bases, such as big data analysis and internet of things. In addition, it provides an incubation space for the work that has been produced.

In front of 600 participants, consisting of students and creative industry players, the Minister of Industry also emphasized that the use of digital technology is the key to increasing labor productivity.

"We invite creative industry activists to make full use of the facilities at BCIC. Please take advantage of training, co-working space, or business incubators, without the need to pay at all," he remarked.

The Minister of Industry added that he also encouraged the private sector to build digital era startup incubation.

"For example, in Nongsa Batam and then in BSD Serpong, there is also the Apple Academy, which is the center of startup and innovation in digital technology development," he explained, adding that, in fact, the founder of Ali Baba Group would build the Jack Ma Institute of Entrepreneurs in Indonesia.

Hatarto explained that the potential of the digital economy would increase the added value of the national GDP by US$150 billion by 2025, so that the government continued to encourage the digital economy expected to be captured by small and medium-sized industry players.

Moreover, the government is targeting the creation of one thousand technopreneurs by 2020, with business valuations reaching $100 billion and total e-commerce value of $130 billion. "At present, Indonesia already has four unicorns, and they all grow up not as part of the conglomerate, but forming a strong new entrepreneur," he added.

Reporting by M Razi Rahman
Editing by Eliswan

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Eliswan Azly
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