Of the requirement, some one million are expected to be contributed by the Indonesian University`s Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI PT).
To this end, the Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) institution is also expected to contribute some 20 thousand students (santris). Hence, the Ministry of Industry is providing assistance for pesantrens in an effort to facilitate education and increase the santris` knowledge and skills.
"Santris are expected to possess skills after graduation in carrying out economic activities considered to be important in daily life," Director General of Small- and Medium-Scale Industry Gati Wibawaningsih stated while attending an event designed to encourage the creation of new entrepreneurs within the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo) in Kediri, East Java, on Monday (Dec 17).
The director general noted that 20 thousand students were expected to become new entrepreneurs in the implementation of the program until the end of 2020. This program is expected to empower the community to be ready to face the progressing times.
The director general remarked that as obedient santris, with willingness to learn, students must be imparted skills.
Moreover, the world is currently entering the era of industrial revolution 4.0, so everyone, including santris, must change their earlier conventional mindset into a digital mindset.
"We are not leaving the first industrial revolution, second industrial revolution, third industrial revolution, so there is no need to fear the fourth one. Smartphones are already the products of the fourth industrial revolution," she revealed.
In its attempt to empower and increase the skills of Islamic boarding schools (Pondok Pesantren/PP) students, the Ministry of Industry is offering tools and other forms of assistance. In PP Lirboyo Kediri, for instance, the tools provided include waste recycling machines, equipment for making bottled water, and machines to make bread.
In addition to being able to sell directly, santris are expected to be able to market the product through internal network. With that, of course, products can be sent to various regions. Thus, Islamic boarding schools can also be more empowered.
According to Kediri`s Lirboyo Al-Machrussyiyah Islamic Boarding School leader, Reza Ahmad Zahid, the assistance was vastly beneficial amid the efforts of Islamic boarding schools to empower their santris and provide them with various skills.
Pondok Pesnatren was significantly assisted by various programs made so far.
"We are aware that PP is one of the educational institutions, with the potential to drive the wheels of economic empowerment in Indonesia," Zahid stated.
The santri community, when in PP, increases its knowledge, improves skills, and studies business, Zahid affirmed.
Young santris are part of the millennial generation that is facing the fourth industrial revolution. Hence, Indonesia should be able to capitalize on the opportunity through increasing the roles in developing the younger or millennial generation that will become leaders in 2030.
Apart from santris, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto also encourages university students to become active in developing entrepreneurship as part of the millennial generation that will form the fourth industrial revolution.
Students can help encourage the development of entrepreneurship through organizing intensive workshops.
"This will be in line with the government`s priority program in developing quality and massive human resources next year," the minister noted.
Hartarto made the statement in a written release while representing President Joko Widodo at the 2018 National Working Meeting HIPMI PT.
He believes the key to success lies in increasing the competence of human resources, so that they will contribute significantly to the country`s economic growth.
"One of the things that should be pushed is the new entrepreneurship industry," the minister stated while expressing hope that HIPMI PT would produce one million new young entrepreneurs from its members. This was expected to meet Indonesia`s demand for four million new entrepreneurs to help reinforce its economic structure.
Currently, the ratio of entrepreneurs at home is still 3.1 percent of the total population.
"Please make a short course program or hold entrepreneurship workshops across the country. Set a target of one million people. Tell us if you need facilities. Please also prepare a roadmap for it," the minister remarked.
This effort is in line with the implementation of the Making Indonesia 4.0 program, with its huge aspiration to make Indonesia one of the world`s 10 biggest economies by 2030.
In order to achieve this target, Indonesia also requires as many as 17 million workers, with knowledge of digital technology, of which some 4.5 million are manufacturing sector workers and 12.5 million workers in the service sector.
The digital economic era has the potential to add US$150 billion to the national gross domestic product by 2025.
"We need to seize this opportunity," he added.
Editing by Bustanuddin
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
