"The current global situation is complicated. All countries are experiencing inflation hikes, food price hikes, and fuel price hikes. I say, we must all be productive, (I repeat), must be productive," he told participants of the “Pre-Employment Card Program Alumni Gathering” at Sentul International Convention Center, Bogor, West Java, on Friday.
He urged the Indonesian workforce to continue upskilling and reskilling, which are key for national progress.
"The key to national progress lies in human resources instead of natural resources. If natural resources are abundant yet existing human resources are not adequate, then it will be pointless. But, if existing natural resources are supported by adequate human resources -- just like those on my left and right -- then our country will make progress," the President said while pointing to four Pre-Employment Card program beneficiaries flanking him on the stage.
According to a Statistics Indonesia (BPS) report, at least 88.9 per cent of Pre-Employment Card beneficiaries have said that the program has been useful in boosting their capability, Widodo pointed out.
The President then lauded the work done by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, as the head of the job creation committee and head of the Presidential Staff Office, Moeldoko, as the committee’s deputy head.
"I must appreciate the Coordinating Minister and his team, and we hope they will continue evaluating and improving (their works) while accepting my inputs," he remarked.
Friday’s event was attended by eight thousand program beneficiaries from all parts of Indonesia.
Besides Widodo and Hartarto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, State Secretariat Minister Pratikno, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil attended the event. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Agus Setiawan
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
