Human resources the key to development: Ginandjar

Human resources the key to development: Ginandjar

SERPONG, West Java (JP): State Minister for National
Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita predicts that over
the next 25 years human resources will replace natural resources
as the main asset in economic development.

"The most important factor will no longer be the muscles but
the brain, or the sciences we master," he told the Sixth Congress
on Science here.

"Therefore, the role of scientists will become increasingly
crucial for developing the future we long for," he said.

Ginandjar acknowledged that Indonesia, hampered by a lack of
skilled human resources, still lags far behind most other
countries, even among the ASEAN countries, in the field of
science and technology.

He argued, however, that financial support for science and
technology development had not been small, as shown by the 30
percent annual increase in the state budget allocations for
science and technology development, which reached Rp 1.18
trillion (US$531 million) in the current fiscal year.

Even though government spending on science and technology is
only about 0.25 percent of the gross domestic product, which is
lower than the 0.5-1 percent recommended by UNESCO, the total
might exceed 0.5 percent of GDP if spending by the private sector
and state companies were included, he said.

"What is puzzling my mind is not the size of the budget
allocations but rather how effective the use of those budget
appropriations has been," Ginandjar said.

He said the government had set the target of spending on
science and technology at two percent of GDP by the end of the
second stage of the Long-term (25-year) Development Plan in the
year 2019.

But funding is only one aspect of the development of science
and technology, he said. Of no less importance is the application
of the most appropriate strategy.

Ginandjar suggested that scientists devote most of their
attention to research on issues and needs which directly affect
the interests of the general public.

"Innovations are motivated mostly by knowledge to fulfill real
needs and to solve real problems," he said.

Ginandjar said there were three preconditions for the
stimulation of creativity crucial to making innovations: an
education system which is designed to produce a creative society;
an environment that highly rewards creative and successful
people; and an atmosphere which respects diversity, a high sense
of tolerance and responsible freedom of thought.

Earlier in his remarks, Ginandjar made some predictions about
the kind of society Indonesian would be in 2019. Among them:

* The seven percent annual economic growth target during the
next 25 years will develop the country into a US$980 billion
market or $2 trillion in terms of the purchasing power parity.

* Manufacturing industry will account for more than one third
of GDP and around 65 percent or 155 million of the total
population will live in urban areas.

* A majority of the rural community will have at least nine
years of education and will therefore be more skilled in reading
market signals and be very aware of the benefits of technology.
At the same time, the size of the middle class will increase,
thereby generating stronger pressure for a higher pace of
democratization.

* As the people are increasingly exposed to western science
and technology, which are inherently loaded with western values,
the people's way of thinking and way of life will also be
influenced increasingly by western standards with regard to
assessing the quality of democracy, human rights and other
aspects of the political life in Indonesia. (vin)