Perry Warjiyo Emphasizes the Need to Boost Indonesia’s Competitiveness
Indonesia’s competitiveness has seen a significant increase, moving up from the 34th position to 27th, according to the World Competitiveness Ranking 2024 released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This positive development was highlighted by Perry Warjiyo, the Chairman of the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI), during the inauguration of the ISEI Central Board for the 2024-2027 term in Jakarta on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Warjiyo, who also serves as the Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), attributed this achievement to the continuous efforts to enhance competitiveness, particularly in the industrial sector. He stressed the importance of Indonesia maintaining its competitive edge and striving to lead in Asia.
Commitment to Strategic Programs for Economic Growth
During the event, Warjiyo reaffirmed ISEI’s commitment to collaborate and support the government’s Asta Cita program, focusing on five strategic initiatives. These include ensuring economic stability and financial system resilience to drive stronger economic growth, developing downstream natural resources programs to enhance economic value, and building food resilience through integrated strategies.
Moreover, he emphasized the acceleration of digitalization to promote economic and financial inclusivity, as well as enhancing human resources through professional certification programs. Warjiyo highlighted the significance of these strategic programs in advancing Indonesia’s economic development.
Addressing Challenges in Agriculture and Human Capital
Warjiyo also drew attention to challenges in the agricultural sector, noting a decrease in the sector’s contribution to GDP in the third quarter, alongside persistent malnutrition issues affecting a significant portion of the population. He underscored the urgency of strengthening food resilience through integrated strategies, particularly by prioritizing the agricultural sector and adopting modern agricultural technologies.
Furthermore, Warjiyo highlighted the importance of enhancing Indonesia’s human capital to compete globally. Citing the World Bank’s Human Capital Index (HCI), which currently stands at 0.53 for Indonesia, he emphasized the need to accelerate efforts in vocational education, teacher quality improvement, establishment of exemplary schools in various regions, and research development to boost the nation’s competitiveness.
Adaptive and Innovative Strategies for Economic Growth
In his address, Warjiyo stressed the necessity for Indonesia to adopt adaptive and innovative strategies, such as strengthening regional cooperation through ASEAN and leveraging digital technology to enhance economic sector efficiency. He emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Through his insightful remarks, Perry Warjiyo shed light on the critical initiatives required to propel Indonesia towards greater competitiveness and economic growth, urging stakeholders to collaborate and innovate for a brighter future.
