China And India Dominate The World Herbal Market Reaching IDR 900 Trillion, Deputy Speaker Of The House Of Representatives Rachmat Gobel: Indonesia Only 1 Percent

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachmat Gobel. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachmat Gobel, invites the millennial generation who are entering into MSME entrepreneurs to get used to being hands up, not hands down.

"This will train independence and form a strong and resilient entrepreneurial character," said the deputy chairman of the DPR Coordinator for Industry and Development, in a written statement on Sunday, when he was a keynote speaker at the launch of the Islamic Association Student Association (Hima Persis) congress. from Antara, Monday 14 February.

In the event which was carried out in a hybrid manner, the Chairman of the Advisory Council of PP Persis, Prof. KH Maman Abdurrahman, and former general chairmen of Hima Persis were also present in various institutions and professions.

The theme of the congress will be about economic revival along with optimism in adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic. On that occasion the General Chairperson of Hima Persis, Iqbal Muhammad Dzilal, also invited his cadres to go into business.

Gobel further said that the millennial young generation is a light for the country and for the future of the nation to rise from adversity due to the pandemic.

"This country really needs the contribution of millennials, especially now that Indonesia is in a demographic bonus condition. So, young people are the real and dominant force of Indonesia at this time," he said.

The former deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that there are many sectors that millennials can enter in the business world, including herbal, handicraft and furniture businesses, food and culinary, and fashion including batik, weaving, and embroidery.

According to him, the world herbal market reached Rp900 trillion, but Indonesia only contributed one percent. Even though Indonesia is very rich in herbs and spices, the world herbal market is controlled by India and China. Even Korea, which only relies on ginseng, is able to contribute quite a bit.

"Indonesia has many herbal plants such as ginger, turmeric, and others," he said.

Likewise with the wealth of Indonesian fashion. “Indonesia has batik, weaving, embroidery, each of which has its own variety. This is a wealth that is not owned by all nations," he said. The world halal food market, he said, is also very large, around seven trillion US dollars.

"Do business by sweating, don't want instant and don't want to get rich quick. Everything must start with hard work," he said, while reminding him not to be easily lulled by instant business offers such as forex or borrowing.

"In trying, the important thing is money," he said, which was greeted with laughter from the audience. "Don't get it wrong. It means: do it (do it). Work hard. Work. Sweat," he said.