"We are lucky to have young people who are progressive revolutionaries and who have led Indonesia to become an independent country; therefore, this struggle must be continued, especially toward a golden Indonesia in 2045," he said during the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day with the Ambon City Latupati Council at Pattimura University, Ambon, Maluku, on Saturday.
Indonesia, he said, is currently seeking to become more advanced as an independent country through efforts based on the Constitution; therefore, generation Z and millennials must help build the nation's independence by developing their skills.
"Fulfilling independence means advancing and developing oneself because the state has provided facilities to move toward a golden Indonesia," he added.
He cited Indonesia's first president Soekarno's view that independence was a golden bridge. The golden bridge has been used to cross to a better Indonesia, he said.
"A golden Indonesia will be achieved if all citizens of the nation are able to protect this country," he emphasized.
Mahfud also expressed optimism about Indonesia's young generation since young people are intelligent and have a deep sense of being Indonesian.
"Indonesian youth in general have a deep sense of being Indonesian, so a sense of nationalism must continue to be fostered," he said.
The government only needs to lend support then so that the feeling of nationalism among the younger generation continues to surge and Indonesia becomes a safe, peaceful, and prosperous country, according to him.
The commemoration of Youth Pledge Day was initiated by the Ambon City Latupati Council with the theme of "Jujaro Mungare" and the aim of realizing the Golden Indonesia goal.
The activity included seminars and workshops with a number of resource persons, including the Indonesian Ambassador to Serbia Samuel Samson.
National Development Planning Minister and head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Suharso Monoarfa, stated earlier that the technocratic design of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) is instrumental for realizing the Golden Indonesia goal,
"The 2025–2029 RPJMN is very strategic. If we can show good things and how to do it, the achievement of Golden Indonesia 2045 will be more rational for all," he added during a meeting on the drafting of the technocratic design for the RPJMN in Yogyakarta recently.
Under the Golden Indonesia vision, the nation is aiming to increase its per capita to US$30,300, eliminate poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve a Human Development Index reading of 0.73.
By 2045, Indonesia is also aiming to be in the top 15 in the Global Power Index and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward achieving net zero emissions.
To support the goal, the government is preparing the 2025–2029 RPJMN as a science-based policy approach and scientific framework.
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Translator: Penina F, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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