JAKARTA (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has designated June 10 as National Entrepreneurship Day, based on a proposal by the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI).
“Based on the suggestion of the founder and chairman of HIPMI, I have signed a presidential resolution establishing National Entrepreneurship Day,” the President said at the 52nd anniversary celebrations of HIPMI here on Monday (June 10).
He therefore termed the establishment of National Entrepreneurs Day, which falls on the founding anniversary of HIPMI, as a “birthday gift” to the entrepreneurs’ association.
He said the National Entrepreneurs Day was first proposed during a visit by HIPMI leaders to the Presidential Palace a few months ago.
President Jokowi said this year’s HIPMI commemoration ceremony will be even more memorable as it will be his last as president, and he also highlighted the presence of President-elect Prabowo Subianto on the agenda.
“President Prabowo Subianto will be attending the 53rd anniversary ceremony (of HIPMI),” he added.
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The President also made it clear that the policies and programs enacted under his leadership would be continued by his successor.
“All future programs will be a continuation (of the current ones), so I don’t think there’s anything to be worried about at all,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President encouraged HIPMI to continuously innovate and contribute to the nation’s success in facing global competition and maximize the potential of Indonesia’s demographic dividend.
He also stressed the importance of mitigating the effects of technological disruption, such as from artificial intelligence (AI).
Responding to the president’s announcement, HIPMI Executive Committee Chairman Akbar Himawan Buchari expressed his gratitude and called it a “special gift” to the association.
Bucari also praised the president’s attention to growing entrepreneurship in Indonesia, noting that under Jokowi’s leadership, the country’s entrepreneurship rate has increased from 1.8 percent when Jokowi took office in 2014 to 3.8 percent today.
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