Jokowi: The COVID-19 Pandemic Cannot Stop The Great Transformation That Is Undertaking

President Jokowi/DOK BPMI Setpres

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded that the major transformations carried out in the country must continue regardless of the conditions. Jokowi even said the COVID-19 pandemic should not be a reason to stop these efforts.

"The COVID-19 pandemic must not stop the big transformation that we are carrying out. (Transformation, ed) must continue," said Jokowi during a briefing at Parahyangan University's 67th Anniversary, which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Monday, January 17.

Jokowi said there are three major transformations that must be carried out, namely in the downstream industrial sector, the green economy, and the digital economy.

In the downstream industry sector, one of the transformations mentioned by the former Governor of DKI Jakarta is how Indonesia no longer exports raw goods. "Since the VOC era, we always send raw materials, which we always send raw materials," he said.

"Therefore, since 2020 I have said that we cannot continue. Stop exporting nickel, stop raw materials. It must be produced into finished goods or semi-finished goods, but not raw goods, not raw materials," added Jokowi.

Not only will the government stop exports of nickel, the government will also stop the export of raw material for bauxite. "Stop the export of copper raw materials," he said.

"We want the added value to exist in the country so that apart from providing greater state revenues in the form of royalty taxes, non-tax state revenues, we can also create as many jobs as possible for our people," Jokowi continued.

Even so, he acknowledged the many challenges associated with this transformation. One of them comes from a country that buys nickel from Indonesia.

However, Jokowi admitted that he was not afraid and even ready to face a country that complained about Indonesia to the world trade organization (WTO).

In addition to the transformation in the downstream industrial sector, the current green economy transformation is also being accelerated. In fact, currently, an environmentally friendly industrial area is being built in North Kalimantan.

Moreover, Indonesia currently has the potential for renewable energy sources (EBT) which are so abundant up to 418 thousand megawatts that come from rivers, undersea currents, geothermal, and wind. All of that potential, he continued, must be developed to the fullest.

Finally, Jokowi also mentioned the digital economy sector which must be transformed immediately. He said, Indonesia has a very large potential and market in the industry so that its development will be faster than other countries.

"In 2025, the value of our digital market will reach USD 146 billion. There is a potential of IDR 2.100 trillion that we can achieve," he explained.

To achieve this potential, the government is committed to continuing to build supporting infrastructure for digital transformation. Even in 2021, the government has started construction of the Satria-1 multifunction satellite and 12.500 base transceiver stations (BTS) are also being established in tens of thousands of villages and sub-districts that do not yet have 4G access.

"The most important thing is the development of human resources (HR). Without good human resources, I doubt this matter will be able to jump. I ask higher education institutions to help students develop their talents. Don't fence off too many outdated study programs," Jokowi concluded.