Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, has emphasized that Indonesia has only 13 years left to become a developed nation. If this opportunity is missed, it will be gone forever.
The President made this announcement during the Puncak Musra Relawan (Volunteer Summit) on Sunday, May 14th, 2023.
Jokowi explained that Indonesia’s demographic bonus will peak in the next 13 years, which means that the country has only one chance to take advantage of this opportunity.
He urged the Indonesian people to elect the right leader for the next 13 years, as this decision will determine whether or not the country will become a developed nation. According to Jokowi, “This cannot be repeated.”
The President revealed that he has studied the history of several countries. He pointed out that in the 1960s and 1970s, Latin American countries were already considered to be developing nations, but they failed to seize the opportunity at that time. As a result, many Latin American countries were stuck in the middle-income trap for 50-60 years.
He stated that if Indonesia fails to seize the opportunity of its demographic bonus, it will also face the same fate. The country is predicted to reach the peak of its demographic bonus in 2033. Jokowi had already warned that this demographic bonus should not become a burden for the country.
The President stressed that Indonesia’s youth population is very important for the country’s future, as they make up a significant portion of the population.
In 2023, out of a total population of 280 million, 66.3 million were young people aged 15-30 years. He urged the country to view this demographic bonus as an opportunity to leap forward, rather than as a burden.
It is clear that Indonesia’s fate is in its own hands. The country has only 13 years to become a developed nation and to avoid the middle-income trap that has plagued many other developing countries.
Therefore, the country’s leadership must be chosen wisely, and every effort must be made to ensure that Indonesia takes advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a prosperous and developed nation.
