The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Air Chief Marshal (Ret.) Dr. (H.C.) Hadi Tjahjanto highlighted Indonesia’s challenges as a highly diverse country in terms of ethnicity, culture, religion, and language.
He explained that this diversity is both a strength and a challenge that must be managed wisely. To achieve the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision, Dr. Tjahjanto emphasized the importance of maintaining unity and harmony amidst this diversity.
National unity and integrity are crucial in addressing various social and economic dynamics, especially in the face of increasingly complex global challenges, including technological disruption.
“To nurture unity in diversity, we must hold firmly to the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, a motto that reflects that even though we are different, we are still one,” said Dr. Tjahjanto during his public lecture titled “Nurturing Unity in Diversity Towards Golden Indonesia 2045” at the Multimedia Room 1, UGM Central Office, Tuesday (Sep. 24).
In the context of achieving the 2045 Golden Indonesia, Dr. Tjahjanto stressed four main pillars on which the nation must focus.
These pillars include human development and mastery of science and technology, sustainable economic development, equitable development, strengthening national resilience, and good governance.
“Mastery of technology and knowledge is the key to building a superior Indonesian generation in the future,” he explained.
One of the key points Dr. Tjahjanto conveyed was sustainable economic development. He noted that Indonesia has long been heavily reliant on its natural resources.
However, he cautioned that the management of natural resources must be done wisely to ensure sustainability for future generations.
“Natural resources like mining, plantations, and fisheries are our wealth, but if not managed wisely, they can become a disaster for future generations,” Dr. Tjahjanto said.
According to him, the creative economy sector, based on technology and innovation, must be the primary focus in creating a sustainable economy and promoting equitable development across the nation, particularly in remote areas.
Improvements in human resources must accompany the government’s aggressive infrastructure development.
“There is no point in building roads and bridges in remote areas if the people are not prepared to manage the economic potential there. Human resources and infrastructure development must go hand in hand,” Dr. Tjahjanto remarked.
In this public lecture, Rona Utami, a lecturer from UGM’s Faculty of Philosophy, moderated the dialogue with the academic community of Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The event featured two experts as discussants: Professor M. Baiquni, Chair of the Board of Professors at UGM, and Dr. Kuskridho Ambardi, a political sociology expert at UGM.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto