VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said that economic growth should not merely rely on natural resources but also needs to be strengthened by  knowledge-based economy.

"Knowledge based economy is crucial. We must have skilled workers who understand technology," said Erick Thohir when delivering a keynote speech at the University of North Sumatra as monitored online here on Sunday.

The minister said that by 2035 Indonesia needs 17.5 million workers professionals and young entrepreneurs who understand and can adapt to technology.

"If digitalization is only related to the Internet and Wifi, in the future, then we must build a very important digitalization infrastructure, because this is the backbone of its strength. That infrastructure includes healthtech, fintech, edutech, and mediatech. All efforts are to achieve that target," he said.

In the meantime, the pandemic, said Thohir, could still happen again. Hence, digitization in the health sector must also be ensured to run well so that the potential for growth continues.

Through cooperation and mutual help in implementing health protocols, Indonesia is successfully holding back  a surge in  COVID-19 cases.

"When COVID-19 cases spike, the economy goes down. When a new pandemic emerges, it will have an impact on life as a whole. That's what we have to overcome," said Minister Thohir.

He said that so far Indonesia still relies on natural resources that can run out and cannot be used again in the future.

"Our challenge is the knowledge based economy, where humans are the center of growth, human innovation is the center of growth. Hence, we cannot rely solely on the natural resource market," he said.

The minister reminded the Indonesian people that if in 2045 the Indonesian generation is not productive, then Indonesia Gold will not be achieved. (Antaranews)