Indonesia Aspires to become High-Income Country

President Jokowi delivers remarks at the Opening of Virtual Conference of Indonesian Rectors Forum on Saturday (4/7) at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province. (Photo: BPMI)

Indonesia needs to have adequate infrastructure, a good work ethic, and competitive human resources to achieve its goal to become a high-income country, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

The President said that based on the World Bank’s report published on 1 July 2020, Indonesia’s gross national income per capita rose from the previous position of US$3,840 to US$4,050, which upgraded the country’s rank from lower middle income to upper middle income.

“We should be grateful for this achievement and we must continue to move forward towards a high-income country, by promoting social justice for all the people of Indonesia,” said the President at the Opening of Virtual Conference of Indonesian Rectors Forum on Saturday (4/7) at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province.

According to him, being a high-income country is indeed not easy, as seen from many third world countries which still trapped as middle income countries for decades. “That is called ‘middle income trap’ and we do not want it to happen to Indonesia,” the President said.

Indonesia, he continued, has the opportunity to step out from the middle income trap to become a high-income country, as long as Indonesia meets several requirements.

“This is the importance of higher education: to develop science and technology, to produce productive and competitive young generation who always strive for humanity and for the advancement of Indonesia,” the President said. (UN / EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana