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Farewell, Gojek: Nadiem’s letter to staff shows high hopes for future of Indonesia, Gojek
In his farewell letter to Gojek staff – called “GoTroops –, the 35-year-old Nadiem underscored a big mission for the on-demand service app giant, which is backed by Google and Visa, as well as China’s Tencent.
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Gojek's Nadiem Makarim visits the State Palace in Jakarta on Oct 21. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he appointment of Nadiem Makarim, CEO and cofounder of technology giant Gojek, as education and culture minister, will leave the $10 billion company in the hands of Kevin Aluwi and Andre Soelistyo.
In his farewell letter to Gojek staff – called “GoTroops –, the 35-year-old Nadiem underscored a big mission for the on-demand service app giant, which is backed by Google and Visa, as well as China’s Tencent.
“Gojek thrives on talent and if Indonesia is to produce more high quality talent, the country’s education system is going to have to undergo a transformation just like the one that began on the streets of Jakarta in 2010. Our schools and academic institutions are going to have to meet the demands of our future economy,” Nadiem wrote in the letter issued Wednesday morning.
“That’s why, when I received the mandate to be the education and culture minister, I knew it was something I had to do. I am so grateful for the trust that President Joko Widodo has placed in me and I will do my best to support his vision in improving the country’s educational system.”
Some have questioned Nadiem’s competence in running the country’s education system, with previous education ministers having educational backgrounds, while the Harvard University graduate spent most of his career in the private sector building Gojek.
Others, however, are giving him the benefit of the doubt to live up to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s expectations for a “breakthrough” in the education system.
Gojek started nine years ago as a call center that connected a few senders with 20 ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers around Jakarta.
