Widodo calls for global talent

Re-elected Indonesia President Joko Widodo has a long to-do list, with human resources a major ambition for his administration in the next five years.

“We will build hardworking, dynamic, skilful human resources who master science and technology,” he announced during his inaugural speech in Jakarta. “We’ll invite global talents to work with us.”

He went into detail as to how he will achieve his human resources goals through increased government spending, closer collaboration between government and industry, while also adopting technology nationwide.

One of Indonesia’s biggest challenges is connectivity, given the country is a sprawling archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. But linking up the current infrastructure (including airports, economic centres and tourism destinations) is expected to create significant employment opportunities.

The 58-year-old President floated the idea of new legislation to achieve his aims while reducing some bureaucracy to attract more foreign direct investment to kickstart Indonesia’s economic growth.

In closing his speech, Widodo vowed to transform Southeast Asia’s largest economy from one heavily reliant on natural resources to one based on manufacturing and services.