President Prabowo Subianto: Nationalism is the Driving Force of Economic Growth
President Prabowo Subianto at the 18th National Congress of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Bandar Lampung city, Lampung province, Wednesday (06/10). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)
Quoting sociologist and historian Liah Greenfeld from her book The Spirit of Capitalism: Nationalism and Economic Growth, President Prabowo Subianto Wednesday (06/10) stated that nationalism is the primary driver of economic growth.
“I take the concluding phrase, ‘the sustained growth characteristic of modern economy’. Such characteristics do not emerge and develop on their own. Development and growth are stimulated and sustained by nationalism,” the President said at the opening of the 18th National Congress of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Bandar Lampung city, Lampung province.
The Head of State also stressed that the experience of many countries demonstrate a close link between nationalism and economic progress.
According to him, the rise of major nations is inseparable from the spirit of nationhood they have built and consistently upheld.
“This is the core of capitalism. Japan, United Stated, and the western world became advanced and China’s economic rise has occurred due of nationalism,” the President added
The President also highlighted the HIPMI’s founding history, noting that the organization was established from the outset with a strong spirit of nationalism.
“As a forum for young entrepreneurs, the HIPMI is a very important platform because it, as mentioned earlier, it has produced many leaders, both community leaders and economic leaders,” the President said.
The President added that the association has also produced figures that held strategic positions in government and national organizations such as Siswono Yudo Husodo (Ex-Minister of Public Housing), Aburizal Bakrie (Ex-Coordinating Minister and leader of nationwide business group Bakrie Group), and Bahlil Lahadalia (Chairperson of the Golkar Party who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources).
The Head of State also called on all participants to continue playing a strategic role in strengthening a national economy firmly grounded in the interests of the Indonesian nation.
“Let us ask ourselves: is our economic system truly founded on nationalism?” the President remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (GWH/EP)
