Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, was one of the speakers at the pre-ceremony graduate briefing for the bachelor’s and applied bachelor’s programs on Tuesday (August 22) at the Grha Sabha Pramana.
In front of the graduands, he spoke about the efforts and achievements of the government in boosting investment and the significant opportunities for business development in the future.
Several participants had the opportunity to share their business experiences or plans, which were met with support and challenges by Bahlil.
“I will find the investors for you. We’ll prepare the capital, and you execute the plans but don’t do it carelessly,” the minister told Jendra, a graduand of the upcoming ceremony.
To Minister Lahadalia, Jendra talked about his experience of starting a small restaurant, which he found challenging. His persistence in establishing new businesses despite repeated failures impressed and moved the minister to offer his assistance.
Minister Lahadalia said this attitude is a critical element in business development.
“If you become an entrepreneur, don’t give up quickly. Keep running your business, don’t switch, and don’t forget to innovate,” he advised.
During this briefing, the minister presented Indonesia’s economic conditions, which showed growth of 5.17% in the second quarter, one of the best growth rates globally. Inflation rates were also below 4%.
These conditions provide a favorable business climate, leading him to hope that the number of entrepreneurs in Indonesia will continue to increase, eventually reaching levels comparable to advanced countries.
“Our entrepreneurs in this republic are only 3.4%. Ideally, when we talk about developed countries, entrepreneurs should be in the double digits,” he explained.
He mentioned that UGM graduates have an excellent opportunity to become successful entrepreneurs.
With various simplifications in licensing processes and access to funding for capital, he believed that opportunities for entrepreneurship have become more accessible to all Indonesian citizens.
“Investment is an instrument to create new economic growth areas, so after you finish your studies, don’t all flock to Java; spread yourselves across all regions of Indonesia because there are already job opportunities and potential to become entrepreneurs there,” he added.
The Chair of the Central Management of UGM Alums Family (Kagama), Ganjar Pranowo, also attended this occasion. He shared a few messages to the graduands who soon will join the alums family.
“Today is an extraordinary moment for anyone who has attended school here, and it marks the transition from learning on campus to facing bigger challenges in the real world,” the chair said.
“After this, you will be scattered worldwide, and you may meet your seniors who are part of Kagama, as our leadership is almost on all continents.”
He hoped that the graduands would reflect on their struggles as formative learning opportunities that shaped their personalities and equipped them to overcome any obstacle.
“Our beloved university has been our intellectual beacon, directing us on knowledge-filled pathways and inspiring us to explore creative realms that ultimately mold our personalities,” he concluded.
Author: Gloria
Photographer: Firsto