PESANTREN EXPECTED TO PRODUCE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 18 (Antara) - Indonesia, through its Indonesia Making 4.0 program, needs at least four million new entrepreneurs to help reinforce its economic structure in the face of the fourth industrial revolution, or industry 4.0.          Of the requirement, some one million are expected to be contributed by the Indonesian University's Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI PT).          To this end, the Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) institution is also expected to contribute some 20 thousand students (santris). Hence, the Ministry of Industry is providing assistance for pesantrens in an effort to facilitate education and increase the santris' knowledge and skills.          "Santris are expected to possess skills after graduation in carrying out economic activities considered to be important in daily life," Director General of Small- and Medium-Scale Industry Gati Wibawaningsih stated while attending an event designed to encourage the creation of new entrepreneurs within the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo) in Kediri, East Java, on Monday (Dec 17).

BUILDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S WELFARE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 18 (Antara) - Income disparity among the Indonesian people is very high and needs to be overcome with expansion of entrepreneurship so that the state would not face difficulties in feeding its 258 million people.          Entrepreneurs promote economic growth. But today, business owners account for less than 2 percent of the Indonesian population. Neighboring countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia, have much higher rates, according to Tasa Nugraza Barley in an article in the Jakarta Post in Dec 2014.          In advanced countries, entrepreneurs grow rapidly and help increase the economic growth. Indonesia should therefore develop its entrepreneurship like that of developed nations, particularly among those that are marginalized.       Prosperity development in advanced states is promoted by expansion of entrepreneurship, while in developing countries, such as in Indonesia, it still depends on the state. "Unluckily, in reality, the development of our entrepreneurship is still lagging far behind," legislator Jazuli Juwaini of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said in Jakarta on Monday (April 17).

GOVT NEEDS TO DEVELOP YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 17 (Antara) -- The Indonesian government needs to develop the country's young entrepreneurs to help boost the nation's economic development and enhance the number of job opportunities.         "Some 57 million small businesses (UKM) in the country are run by young entrepreneurs. With such a large number, we estimate that they contribute at least Rp570 trillion to the country's economy," Hardini Puspasari, the head of the Autonomy Board for Business, Investment and Small Business Enterprises Affairs of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) said on Wednesday.         Seeing the important role played by entrepreneurs, the government needs to develop young businessmen to raise the number of entrepreneurs in the country. Their numbers are very small as compared to Indonesia's population.         "The country's entrepreneurs account for only 1.8 percent of the total population. It is a relatively small figure. Ideally, it should be more than 2.0 percent. In Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and other neighboring countries, entrepreneurs account for about 8.0 percent of the population," General Chairman of HIPMI Bahlil Lahadalia said in a written statement recently.

RI TO BOOST ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 13 (ANTARA) - In an attempt to boost economic growth and increase employment, the government has plans of increasing the number of entrepreneurs in the country, which currently stands at 1.56 percent.  Considering that entrepreneurs are the key drivers of the economy, the government has plans to increase the number by 5 million in the next ten years, or by 500 thousand every year.          "From 2015, we will increase the number of entrepreneurs by 500 thousand a year, so that in 2025, the number of additional entrepreneurs in Indonesia reaches five million," the BI governor said in his keynote address at the opening of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, on Monday.