The large number of Indonesian talents in the digital sector abroad makes President Joko Widodo concerned. He expressed his hope for talents who are pursuing careers abroad, so that they will return to Indonesia and work together to build the country.
This was conveyed by Jokowi when talking with several digital talents such as the Head of Analytics, Platform & Regional Business Grab Singapore Ainun Nadjib at the Inauguration of Sea Labs Indonesia in Jakarta, Tuesday (1/3).
“I want to ask how do I get these talents to return to Indonesia?” Jokowi asked Ainun.
Ainun also replied that the key for these talents to return home and have a career in the country is a guarantee from the government that there will be opportunities and stability for these digital talents.
“Stability that might be a bit tricky. Some may be due to family considerations, some are career stability considerations, then I personally consider the children’s education, “said Ainun.
Furthermore, Ainun said that Indonesia has great potential to become the fourth technology talent player in the world, after China, India and the United States.
“The four seats for Indonesia should be because we are a big nation, I think it’s only a matter of time. What needs to be done in the long term has been done by the Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem with Freedom of Learning, it can continue to be maintained, “he said.
In addition to the two things he mentioned earlier, Ainun said that the government should be able to invest more in education than before. He gave an example, Vietnam has a special school for genius children to gain knowledge in each province. While in Indonesia, he did not see such a thing happening.
“Hopefully we can accelerate again to take over not only surpassing Vietnam but also taking the seat that has become Indonesia’s nature, which is the fourth highest in the world,” said Ainun.
On this occasion, the President also spoke with the Head of Frameworks Engineering at Asana, United States, Veni Johanna. Jokowi asked what efforts the government can do in creating an ecosystem in Indonesia so that digital talents can continue to be creative for the country. Veni also replied that one of the government’s concrete efforts is through incentive support for the younger generation.
“In my opinion, the first is to provide incentives for young people to do internships at domestic or foreign companies, and to provide incentives for people to do more research,” said Veni.
After the conversation, Jokowi directly asked the digital talents to return home immediately to build a more advanced Indonesia.
“I think no don’t go far, so my hope is to just go home, go home. Here are many (opportunities) now, there are opportunitycompanies big Everything is here,” he said.
Jokowi’s desire is not without reason. Because the digital potential in Indonesia is estimated to reach IDR 4,531 trillion in 2030. Therefore, Jokowi does not want Indonesia to be just a market.
“This is a very large number. And the entire digital sector will also experience double-digit growth in 2021. But what I don’t want is for Indonesia to be just a market, Indonesia has to be a player. Therefore, we must build a conducive ecosystem together,” he explained.
“And digital talent What we have that is outside we must invite to return to our homeland. Digital talentt is good in the field Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computingin digital design, digital marketing, blockchain“I think there are many of our children outside that we need to invite to return to our homeland in order to build our digital system to make it better and more conducive,” Jokowi added.
The President also appreciated what Sea and Sea Labs Indonesia had done in inviting Indonesian digital talents to return to the country. In fact, in 2023, Sea said it would invite around 1,000 digital talents to return to Indonesia to enter Sea and Sea Labs Indonesia.
Sea Labs Indonesia is a Sea initiative that is here to grow Indonesia’s digital industry and provide intensive training for new digital talents. Through curricula prepared by technology and digital experts as well as job training opportunities,
Sea Labs Indonesia will build a team of 1,000 Indonesian digital talents mainly engineer and product manager, who will be ready to contribute through technology. Sea Labs Indonesia will engage experienced world-class teachers and mentors to share knowledge with Indonesian digital talent. [gi/rs]