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)