TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is thankful that Indonesia is now categorized as a middle-income country after previously categorized as a low-middle income country based on the World Bank Report dated July 1, 2020. Results of the report raised Jokowi's optimism that Indonesia can escape the middle-income trap

"Do we have a chance to escape the middle-income trap? I answered firmly, we have great potential, we have a great potential to pass the middle-income trap, we have a great potential to become a high-income country," Jokowi said during the opening of the Indonesian Rector Forum Conference 2020 online event on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

The World Bank report as of July 1, 2020 stated that Indonesia's status has increased from a lower-middle-income country to an upper-middle-income country because of the increase in the country's gross national income per capita from USD 3,840 to USD 4,050 in 2019.

Jokowi said that to escape the middle-income trap, there has to be efficient infrastructures, quick work procedures, competitive and result-oriented and excellent human resources. In this instance, the role of universities becomes essential to develop science and technology to produce productive and competitive young generations.

"We cannot be distracted by administrative issues, no can do. We need to change, we need to develop new ways, develop new strategies, smart short cuts, out of the box," Jokowi said.

Jokowi also reminded that Indonesia will enter its 100 years, which will be in 2045. "Only 25 more years to a century. Lets make history, lets prove that we will not be stuck in middle income trap," Jokowi concluded.

DEWI NURITA