Minister urges science, tech mastery to boost Indonesia's economy

The minister noted that the nation must shift from an extractive economy to one built on high value industries to improve national welfare.

“One fundamental notion about our natural resources is that we must be capable of tapping them to improve national welfare. It is true that Indonesia holds vast resources, but what matters most is our ability to harness them with science,” Yuliarto said while opening a national seminar and convention of the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII) in Jakarta on Thursday.

In a statement released on Friday, the minister emphasized that Indonesia must keep pace with global developments driven by the energy transition.

He specifically pointed to the growth of the electric vehicle industry as a primary example of this global shift.

The minister warned of the risks of the middle technology trap in which countries fail to advance beyond basic manufacturing technology.

To avoid reliance on foreign technology, Yuliarto stated that Indonesia must nurture high quality human resources capable of inventing and testing new innovations.

These efforts will enable the nation to fully capitalize on its natural wealth while ensuring sustainable development.

Yuliarto also affirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the role of higher education in upgrading the mining sector through a sustainable, value-added approach.

“It is time for us to dream big and move forward to become a developed country,” he said during the convention.

He stressed the need for a triple helix model of innovation to help Indonesia advance by connecting academia, industry, and government.

Head of the PII Mining Engineering Expertise Body Rizal Kasli echoed the sentiment by highlighting the importance of boosting the quality of mining engineering education.

He concluded that graduates must be supported in adopting sustainable mining practices to protect the environment for future generations.

Translator: Sean Filo, Tegar Nurfitra