The dream is to be a developed country
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Trade Ministry has said that foreign exchange earned from exports can push national economic growth and help advance Indonesia’s dream of becoming a developed country by 2045.

"Actually, the role of foreign exchange from export in economic growth, we are confident that this will become one of the driving sectors, pushing Indonesia toward its dream to become a developed country by 2045, in the 100th year of independence," Head of the ministry's Trade Policy Agency, Kasan, said.

He made the remarks during an event entitled 'Gambir Trade Talk #10,' which discussed 'Export's Foreign Exchange as Instrument of National Economic Growth,' which was followed online on Wednesday.

He said that per capita income is one indicator of a developed country.

"The dream is to be a developed country. Well, in order to become a developed country, of course, one of the indicators is in the economic sector, which is income per capita," Kasan elaborated.

Indonesia needs to have a per capita income of at least US$23 thousand to become a developed country, he pointed out.

Currently, Indonesia's per capita income is US$4 thousand, he informed.

He said that as of May 2023, foreign exchange earned from exports recorded a surplus of US$16 billion.

"From the current facts and data, we see that foreign exchange from export as per May, we still have a surplus, the difference in figure is some US$16 billion," he added.

Going by the economic history of developed countries, it takes a nation at least 100 years after independence to become developed, he said.

"If we look at many developed countries, 100 years of independence, had they reached the status of a developed country? As far as I know, from the developed countries' economic history, it is more than that, more than 100 years. However, the dynamics at that time with current times is a little bit different, so the speed may be a little different," he explained.

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Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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