Chairperson of the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII) Ilham Akbar Habibie said the role of Human Resources (HR) was very large on the progress of a nation.

"It's useless if you have money [a myriad] will not be able to [develop the industry] if there is no human resource," said Ilham in a discussion with the Chief Editor Forum, (22/04) night at Graha Engineering Industri, Secretariat of PII Central Jakarta.

"For example, countries in the Middle East they have a lot of money, so do they have an industry? We can immediately answer not. Nothing, which is difficult because he does not have people [HR]. What is important is humans. The important thing is people who have expertise, including engineers," he added.

He emphasized that when seen engineers are very closely related to the progress of the industrial sector in a country. Without an engineer, it is very difficult to imagine the existence of industry in the country.

"This is why we at PII emphasized that we need to encourage reindustrialization. It is very important to bring our country to advance," he explained.

As stated together that Indonesia has a goal in 2045 will become a gold Indonesia. But once again where there are developed countries in this world without industry.

"One thing that I want to emphasize, rich is not the same as advanced. We see the Gulf State or Arab country, they are rich, probably not. Imagine if they do not have oil reserves, maybe they become backward countries," he said.

According to Ilham Habibie, the progress of a nation is not [on the shoulders] of just a few people, but [on the shoulders] of one country, one nation must support it.

progress is a demographic

The progress of a nation is inseparable from the power of its demographics, and Indonesia is currently in a rare gold moment, namely a demographic bonus. With the majority of the population is at a productive age, Indonesia has extraordinary potential to rush into a global economic force, as long as it is able to manage and empower its human resources precisely and sustainably.

"The developed country usually has a 'thick' middle class community. We in Indonesia in 5 years ago experienced a decline in the middle class, from 23% to 18%. Approximately nearly 10 million Indonesian people 'said goodbye' from the middle class," he said Sad.

The number of middle class people who dropped into a small [poor] society, is that a good sign? "In my opinion not," said Ilham Habibie.

President of the United States (US) Donald Trump also encourages reindustrialization with their own style. That's because in the US also experienced loss of middle class society.

That is why the US is currently trying to bring back industries that have previously been outsourced abroad. "This is also a concrete example of the importance of reindustrialization," he explained.

Ilham said, the approach currently used by the US raises a lot of debate, especially about justice and its impact on trading partners. However, explained Ilham Habibie, the philosophy behind it remains relevant that the state cannot be strong without a strong industry.

"If we analyze why happened? Because the United States also wants to reindustrialization, because it wants to restore the industry that had been out, who wanted to be as if, the way we might not agree, but the philosophy in that section was reindustrialization," Ilham added.

The United States, said Ilham Habibie realized that without a solid industrial foundation, the continuation of national forces became fragile. Through the implementation of the tariff policy, Trump is trying to expand its industry.

"Now, he [as] wants to restore [outsourced industry] in a way that we might not agree. This might say [policy] is wrong, it is also not win-win but win-lose like that, as if he [as] won alone, he [as] dominated the weak," he said.

Reindustrialization rebuilding the nation

Ilham Habibe said, PII felt the need to present a strategic vision to revive the spirit of symbol and technological innovation in the country.

"We are critically the journey of Indonesia's industrialization, the challenges we face today, as well as concrete steps to rebuild the technical foundations of the future of Indonesia as a country with the independence of technology and global competitiveness," he explained.

Two Indonesian Faces

Ilham Habibie mentioned two differences in the face of Indonesia now and then in managing industrialization.

In the past around 2000, the industrial sector contributed nearly 30 percent of the national GDP. Of course this shows how strong the foundation of the national industry at that time was.

"N-250 aircraft by the nation's children ever flew through the Asian Sky, prove the ability of Indonesia's high-level engineering," he added.

He said, many young people of Indonesia aspire to become engineers and scientists, continuing the relay of national development.

Meanwhile, the phenomenon that occurs today is the contribution of the industrial sequence to the national GDP dropped dramatically below 19 percent. This indicates the occurrence of early deindustrialization.

"Many research and development facilities changed its function into a commercial center, eroding innovation infrastructure. While neighboring countries drove with technical innovations, Indonesia such as losing direction and vision of theinyuran," explained the 3rd child of the Republic of Indonesia BJ Habibie.

Then why does Indonesia have to re -industrialize?, Ilham Habibie mentioned his fault to increase global competitiveness.

Not only that, reindustrialization will also create quality jobs, and create jobs with high mining value. Also there is technological independence, meeting strategic needs without extreme dependence.

"Reindustrialization is not just a romanticism of the past, but a strategic agenda to build a competitive Indonesian future. Early deindustrialization has weakened the nation's capacity in building economic independence and technical innovation," he explained.

"Without a planned and systematic reindustrialization effort, Indonesia is at risk of being trapped as a consumptive market without adequate production capacity and innovation," continued Ilham explained.

Reindustrialization Motor

One of the reindustrialization driving motors is the availability of engineers. At present the number of engineering graduates in Indonesia reaches 400 thousand more per year.

However, until now there are around 270 thousand active engineers who are expected to work in various sectors.

Of these, as many as 30% of engineers work as technical no, alias switched to the non-engineering sector.

"The engineers are the spearhead of reindustrialization. Those who build vital infrastructure such as dams, highways, ports, and develop strategic technology for the progress of the nation," said Ilham.

Unfortunately, the number of engineers registered and professionally recognized is still very limited. Many engineering graduates who are actually absorbed into non-engineering work, causing Indonesia to lose its best talents in the field of engineering.

PII Strategy Mandate 2024-2027

PII has a mandate until 2027, namely emphasizing the important role of engineers in leading the direction of sustainable and competitive national development.

PII's strategic focus includes the five main pillars of downstreaming to increase the value of domestic natural resources, accelerate renewable energy development for energy independence, acceleration of sustainable industry based on environmentally friendly technology, digital transformation across sectors for efficiency and innovation, as well as revitalization of strategic industries through modernization and strengthening domestic supply chains. This is an important foundation in developing a strong Indonesia facing global challenges.

"PII's vision is clearly a strategic center for the Archipelago Engineer in organizing an independent, advanced, and sustainable future of Indonesia. To realize this vision, PII focused on encouraging strategic areas that are the main foundations of national reindustrialization," he said.

SOURCE "KONSTRUKSI MEDIA"