Try laments RI's human resources

Try laments RI's human resources

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno expressed concern
yesterday about the worrisome quality of Indonesia's human
resources development.

Citing a 1997 United Nations Development Program report on
human development, Try said Indonesia ranked only 99th out of 175
countries in the world in the human development index.

The human development index ranks countries based on a
composite of, among other things, a nation's life expectancy,
adult literacy and education.

"However, we do not need to feel discouraged because when we
take into account our people's strong determination and spirit,
our human resources development is not as bad as described," Try
said during the opening of the congress of the Association of
Engineering Experts at Merdeka Selatan Palace.

The country has no recourse but to prepare strong and skilled
human resources in anticipating the free trade era and economic
globalization in the coming millennium, Try said.

He said a thorough consolidation is needed as the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area will be fully
implemented in 2003.

"In such a short time, we must continue our consolidation,
evaluation and self-introspection on our preparedness to face the
challenges ahead," Try said.

The Vice President also called for vigilance in the face of
the financial crisis, urging people to brush aside any sense of
desperation.

He said he was confident the nation would be able to find a
way out of the turmoil.

"We are quite experienced in facing even the most critical
situations, and we are always able to solve the crisis," he said.

According to Try, people must work shoulder to shoulder and
remain united to jointly work for better a situation.

"Technical experts and engineers have a leading and strategic
role in the mastery and development of technology, especially in
anticipating competition during the global market era," Try said.
(prb)