Millennials Must Stay Optimistic, President Jokowi Says
President Jokowi walks together with participant of 2018 Indonesia Millennial Movement Congress at Bogor Palace, West Java province, Monday (12/11) (Photo: PR/Anggun)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said he admires former Chairman of Islamic Organization Muhammadiyah Buya Syafii Maarif,who remains tireless even though he is already 83 years old.
Buya Syafifi Maarif continues to visit and encourage me. His spirit is still burning like the spirit of the millennials, said President Jokowi when meeting participants of the 2018 Indonesia Millennial Movement Congress at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Monday (12/11).
The millennial spirit shown by Buya Syafifi Maarif, the President continued, will be evident when talking about Indonesias unity and brotherhood, as well as efforts in advancing Indonesia because the challenges in the future will be more difficult and complex compared to those of today, especially for a diverse country like Indonesia.
The Industrial Revolution 4.0, according to the President, has made the world change very fast. However, President Jokowi continued, Indonesians should remain aware so that those speed changes will not lead Indonesia to be an intolerant nation where extremism flourishes.
The President also expressed hope that this meeting, which is conducted by the Maarif Institute, will move Indonesia forward. Let us change, from pessimism to optimism, from consumptive to productive behavior, from being divided to being united, change to be a better version of Indonesia because thats what we need to do, said the President.
On that occasion, President Jokowi also expressed belief that Indonesia will become worlds four largest economies in 2045 and the millennials will enjoy this for they will lead the country by then. However, the President continued, the process of getting there will be not easy and full of obstacles. Therefore, the foundations must be strengthened, he said.
Infrastructure and human resources as the foundations must be strengthened to compete with other countries, President Jokowi concluded.
Also present at the event were Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin and Head of the Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf. (DND/GUN/ES)
Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas
