"Industry 5.0 is about Indonesian people, who can be (dispatched to) face changes (caused by) technological disruption. (It is not the matter of technology), but whether the people are ready or not," State-Owned Enterprises Minister, Erick Thohir, noted during a public lecture at Darul Ulum Islamic University, Lamongan, East Java, on Saturday.
Minister Thohir drew attention to three necessary aspects that should be prepared in Industry 5.0, with the first being that human capability should be honed, as it was the foundation of this era's economic growth. Moreover, ending dependence on natural resources is also deemed important.
The minister called for the need to have skilled labor that can optimally utilize technology.
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Indonesia requires as many as 17 million technologically-predisposed workers by 2035. The nation is in need of people that can face the challenges.
Thohir stressed on the need for young people, who were always eager to learn and hone their abilities as a means to improve their capabilities.
The minister remarked that the government will continue to develop and provide infrastructure. Long ago, people used to focus on powering up villages with electricity. Now it was time to install WIFI’s in villages.
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Technology and human capital must go hand in hand. Therefore, it would be a shame if the workforce only has basic abilities, while Indonesia's digital economy continued to grow. It was estimated that by 2030, Indonesia's digital economy will potentially reach Rp4,500 trillion.
"Do not let the potential of Indonesia's digital economy be (taken advantage of) by (foreign) people. Do not let the (vacancy of workforce) for digital economic growth of that size be (filled) by (foreign people). Do not let the potential for Indonesia's extraordinary digital economic growth be (managed) by (foreign people)," he concluded.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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