President Jokowi: ASEAN Youth Should Play Active Role in Digital Transformation, Green Economy

President Jokowi attends the ASEAN leaders meeting with the ASEAN Youth at the Sokha Hotel, Thursday (11/10) on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev.

The ASEAN should capitalize its demographic bonus so that the Southeast Asia region can become the epicenter of growth, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has stated.

The President delivered the statement at the ASEAN leaders meeting with the ASEAN Youth at the Sokha Hotel, Thursday (11/10) on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

According to the President, as many as 33 percent of the ASEAN population, or about 225 million people, are young generation.

“First, ASEAN’s young generation should play an important role in digital transformation. As digital natives, millennials and Gen-Z are important drivers for accelerating digital transformation,” President Jokowi said.

As of last year, the ASEAN had 35 unicorns. Start-ups in Southeast Asia, led by young people, have also generated US$ 8.2 billion in 2020.

“Only by accelerating digital transformation will the ASEAN quickly make a big leap to become developed countries,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also talked about the role of young generation in strengthening the green economy. The current regional economy would emerge stronger and be a turning point for green economic development in the region.

“Low-carbon and sustainable development is the economy of the future. The ASEAN youth must be at the forefront in carrying out the future economy for a better region,” the President said.

President Jokowi expressed hope that the ASEAN youth can become leaders of change because their active participation will determine the future of ASEAN. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RI/MMB)