TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The presidential hopeful number 01 Joko Widodo or Jokowi called on young entrepreneurs to seize every available opportunity.

“As an entrepreneur, you must make the most of every opportunity, even the slightest one,” said Jokowi in the opening of National Meeting of Young Entrepreneur Volunteers in Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday, Nov 3.

Jokowi recalled his experience of being a young entrepreneur in his 30s and had a spirit to seize an opportunity and became the member of Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Solo.

According to Jokowi, the movement of young entrepreneurs in this digital era was rapid. Within 2 to 3 years, he mentioned, they succeed to become a millionaire and that proved by the emergence of four unicorns, a startup with a valuation over US$1 billion.

“There are Gojek, Traveloka, Bukalapak, and Tokopedia, that generally, the owner's age is below 35 years old. They are all still young and have became millionaires,” Jokowi said.

Attended the national meeting were the House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo and a number of officials as well as entrepreneurs, such as the Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukito, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung, and PDIP politician Maruarar Sirait.

FRISKI RIANA