If we cannot prepare this, it will become very difficult for us to catch up with other countries. I urge all technology companies, big firms, to offer internships for our studentsJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian youngsters should possess digital skills and a digital mindset, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
"Our children should have digital skills and a digital mindset. As a result, a digital culture is formed in our country,” President Jokowi noted here on Wednesday.
The head of state delivered the statement during the launch of the Acceleration Movement of Digital Generation.
The launch was also attended by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir, Minister of Education and Culture Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate, and other relevant officials.
"If we cannot prepare this, it will become very difficult for us to catch up with other countries. I urge all technology companies, big firms, to offer internships for our students," President Jokowi emphasized.
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Jokowi believes Indonesia has the potential to become the largest and fastest-growing digital market.
In 2019, Indonesia's digital market was valued at US$40 billion, while in 2020, the value increased to $47 billion, and climbed to $70 billion in 2021. The figure is estimated to reach $146 billion by 2025.
"This was accelerated due to the pandemic. Hence, the growth of our digital market was expedited due to the pandemic. We saw that logistics rose 60 percent, as the use of delivery, e-grocery also rose 60 percent. The number of digital consumers also rose 10.2 percent, and these are new consumers," President Jokowi pointed out.
Furthermore, e-money transactions until October 2021 also increased 55 percent, and the volume of e-money transactions as compared to October 2020 rose 31 percent.
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"What do I want to convey? The market potential is huge. That potential should not be taken by others," President Jokowi emphasized.
The head of state noted that currently, Indonesia had 2,319 startup companies.
"It is increasing with each passing day. We have one decacorn, seven unicorns, and lots of soon-to-be unicorns that will continue to be pushed to become unicorns and decacorns. We all have to be ready for the world's digital progress,” the president affirmed.
Unicorn is a start-up company, with a valuation of $1 billion, or around Rp14.1 trillion, such as Traveloka, Gojek, Tokopedia, and BukaLapak, while decacorn is a company, with a valuation of $100 billion, or Rp1,410 trillion.
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The Acceleration Movement of Digital Generation encompasses three movements conducted collaboratively by the Ministry of SOEs, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and Narasi.
SOEs Minister Erick Thohir serves as the head mentor in the Merah Putih Fund, Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim functions as the head mentor at Merdeka Campus, and Najwa Shihab is the head mentor in the Indonesia Digital Tribe that targets 10 thousand young people in the age bracket of 15-35 years for four to five months a year. The youngsters were provided digital skills and developed a digital mindset. They were then challenged to create projects in eight fields, such as agriculture, fisheries, and health.
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Translator: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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