Coordinating MINISTER for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto invited engineers not to retire yet considering that there is still a lot of country development work that needs to be completed.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic capacity as a crucial step in realizing Indonesia as a developed country. "For this reason, I ask that the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII) can take advantage of this forum to face the challenges of the next 10-20 years. We must ensure that this organization remains relevant and continues to be a pillar of the government," said Airlangga at the 2024 Industrial Engineering Awards event.

Chair of the Organizing Committee Wiza Hidayat delivered the 2024 Industrial Engineering Awards event with the theme Innovative Engineering for Sustainable Development in Shaping The Future of Indonesia, bringing together industry, academic and government leaders with a spirit of technological innovation to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

On that occasion, the Industrial Engineering Vocational Agency-Indonesian Engineers Association (BKTI-PII) awarded the Minister Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

BKTI-PII, which has entered a decade of its journey, assesses that Airlangga received the award because he contributed significantly to the development of national industry and made continuous efforts to advance the Indonesian economy, especially in the fields of industrialization and sustainability.

Airlangga is also considered to play an important role in developing policies that support Indonesia's industrialization, including the implementation of the industrial revolution 4.0, as well as encouraging the use of technology that supports efficiency and sustainability.

As one of the influential figures in Indonesia's economic development, Airlangga demonstrated visionary leadership in advancing industry and promoting the importance of investment in infrastructure and renewable energy.

"This award is a form of recognition of significant achievements in the field of industrial engineering which play an important role in creating solutions to global challenges," explained Wiza.

Chairman of BKTI PII Faizal Safa added that the role of industrial engineering engineers is very crucial in downstream industry and pushing Indonesia out of the middle income trap.

"The way for Indonesia to get out of the middle income trap is by increasing domestic productivity in creating more productive jobs and improving the quality of life of the people." "BKTI PII targets that by 2030 the Indonesian people must have got out of the middle income trap to achieve Indonesia Gold 2045," said Faizal.

This event was attended by more than 300 prominent industrial engineering engineers who play a significant role in Indonesia's development in both the public and private sectors.

Several figures who attended included the Managing Director of Pertamina Nicke Widyawati, the Chancellor of Trisakti Kadarsah Suryadi, the famous musician Purwatjaraka, the Managing Director of Blue Bird Adrianto Djokosoetono, the Managing Director of Pelita Air Dendy Kurniawan, and many other figures. (D-2)