VP Gibran Opens 47th CAI Camp, Praises Pesantren's Role in Blending Religion and Entrepreneurship

Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Gibran Rakabuming Raka officially opened the 47th Permata Cinta Alam Indonesia (CAI) End-of-School-Year Camp in 2026. He asserted that the Permata CAI activity, held at the Kosambiwojo Campground in Wonosalam, Jombang Regency, on Monday (29/6/2026), serves as crucial capital in welcoming the demographic bonus or Golden Indonesia 2045. Speaking before 2,000 participants comprising alumni and students of the Gadingmangu Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Jombang, Gibran expressed appreciation for Gadingmangu’s consistency in making Permata CAI a platform for youth character development. He emphasised that the boarding school successfully integrates religious education, nationalism, and entrepreneurship. “I appreciate Pondok Pesantren Gadingmangu for consistently organising Permata CAI as a space for youth development. The materials provided, ranging from national insight, state defence, law, noble character, to entrepreneurship, are excellent for shaping a generation that is strong in character, independent, and has integrity,” he said. Gibran stressed the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age so that the younger generation can seize opportunities when Indonesia enters the peak of its demographic bonus between 2030 and 2045. “We are about to enter a demographic bonus, when around 80 per cent of the population will be of productive age,” he said. This momentum, according to him, only comes once in the nation’s history. Therefore, young people must be prepared from now on, one way being by building independence through entrepreneurship. In addition to opening the camp activities, Gibran also visited an MSME exhibition that was part of the event series. He paid special attention to the Al Qomar Bakery stand, which was considered successful in developing its business by utilising digital marketing. “This kind of business model needs to be an example for other boarding schools. Good products must be supported by digital marketing so they can grow and strengthen the economic independence of pesantren,” he said. In front of participants from various regions in Indonesia and abroad, Vice President Gibran also invited the younger generation to become agents of change who carry the spirit of unity within society.