VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

BPS spokesman Eko Oesman. (ANTARA)

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) is buoyant of the 2020 population census paving the way to fulfilling President Joko Widodo's vision of Indonesia Onward in 2045. President Widodo targets creating an onward Indonesia in 2045, with per capita income touching Rp320 million annually, or Rp27 million monthly. The national gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to touch US$7 trillion in 2045. In fulfilling the dream of onward Indonesia, the president also targets alleviating the poverty rate to close to zero percent and to make Indonesia one of the top five economies in the world. To this end, the government has adopted an action plan to develop human resources and infrastructure. BPS spokesman Eko Oesman in Manokwari, the capital of West Papua Province, on Tuesday called for the need for valid data pertaining to Indonesia’s population in order to achieve the onward Indonesia vision. Hence, the population census will serve as a map to attain Indonesian’s population data.

"Indonesia will experience extraordinary demographic bonus. The government is preparing excellent human resources, so the country can benefit from or empower the demographic bonus properly," he explained.

Indonesia yet encounters myriad challenges pertaining to human resources. It is currently ranked 65th in the world in terms of human resources development. The production capacity of Indonesians is yet far from efficient. In the health sector, the country's stunting rate reached 27.70 percent, while the malnutrition rate was found to touch 3.9 percent.

"The other challenges arise in the form of the mathematical, scientific, and reading capacity yet being low. Our literacy skill is also low," he pointed out. The government requires to focus on ensuring that from now on people receive adequate nutrition and education and are able to avail job opportunities, including creating active and self-reliant senior citizens, he added. (ANTARA)