Minister Of Finance Sri Mulyani Calls The Quality Of Human Resources As An Indicator Of Developed Countries

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA – For almost a week, the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives' Budget Agency (Banggar) Said Abdullah and the government set a target for economic growth at the level of 5.2 percent in 2022. This rate is quite far from 2021 which has a target of 3.7-4.5 percent.

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani has a different view. She said the indicators of being a developed country are not only in the form of economic growth which must be above five percent every year.

“Often we are presented with several indicators that are often conveyed such as economic growth, poverty, inequality, or the exchange rate of farmers, the exchange rate of fishermen, and so on. However, the progress of a nation must always be bound and determined by the quality of its human beings," said Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani quoting Antara, Sunday, September 12.

According to Sri Mulyani, relying on the people's high per capita income as the national economic performance is only part of it to be used as an indicator of developed countries.

Indonesia, Sri Mulyani continued, must also meet other requirements, such as qualified Human Resources (HR) capable of winning world-class competitions.

"Advancing from our ability to win various international competitions, ranging from sports olympiads, film festivals, Nobel Prizes, various other events," said Sri Mulyani.

Not only that, there are other sectors that can boost national economic indicators such as the physical aspects of Indonesia such as highway infrastructure, toll roads, modern transportation, and high-speed trains that the government continues to build.

In addition, said Sri Mulyani, the government also continues to facilitate public access to quality health and education services. This is also done as a condition for Indonesia to become a developed country.

“Advanced is also seen from various other things, whether the city has tall buildings. Do the people already have internet and electricity access," said Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.