[Unpad.ac.id, 30/08/2013] The minister of trade Republic of Indonesia argues that entrepreneurship is one of the so many aspects that Indonesia needs in order to develop. Since the last 50 years, Indonesia has been experiencing increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. When Sukarno was still in office, Indonesia’s GDP was only US $ 500 per capita, whereas in Suharto era, it increased to US$ 1200 per capita.
Despite monetary crisis in 1998, reaching a very low GDP of US$ 600, it came back to US$ 1000 and US$4000 in 2013. “God willing, if our economy remains stable, by the end of 2014 it will reach US$ 5000 per person per capita,” said he.
The very challenge that the country is facing is how Indonesian people can now upgrade the system into democracy 2.0, the democracy that can lead the people to excellence.
“We have to start emphasizing our cultural wealth, economic resources, social harmony, and technology advancement,” he added.
Speaking on entrepreneurship and education, he argues that the two can go hand in hand supporting democray as it pillars. Education creates strong entrepreneurs with outstanding competitiveness. Regional competitions among nations have become very prevalent. Students, therefore, are expected to look for more market potentials.
“When you are an entrepreneur, you can now our strength, purchase power, innovation, discipline, morality, and intelligence,” he concluded.
The teleconference public lecture was organized by Bank Mandiri, bringing a theme “Spirit of entrepreneurship in order to develop the nation”, in which students from three universities, namely Unpad, Universitas Airlangga, and Universitas Hassanudin participated.
