As a person who is part of the startup scene in the digital space, this piece of information serves as a boost to all startups operating in Jakarta and at the same time it serves as a commendation to the government for implementing the right policies to support the growth of future economies.

Appreciating the fact that at any given day the government, both in the local and national level, is presented with numerous factors to juggle with and to assign priority to the different demands and agendas. What is clear from their communication is their big desire to see more and more people taking more active and participative role in economics development in Jakarta and furthermore in Indonesia and to embrace technology.

While in the past, the biggest factor that leads to reluctance and hesitation is fear of not successful or not profitable, today the common theme that is shared by all of the startup practitioners anywhere in the world is that to try-to fail-to improve and to resume is the key to success and not to be bogged down with strictly pursuing the bottom-line. No one disputes the fact that profitability is eventually is the financial metric to show that your effort is appreciated. However, an emphasis need to be made is that profitability would mean a lot more when an appreciation of the journey where you have been is prominently presented along with the quantitative metrics.

Successful businessman Ciputra tirelessly and passionately encourages people to take up entrepreneurship, because it is his conviction that with more and more people joining entrepreneurship, the higher the economic growth that Indonesia will see. The terminology of entrepreneurship is not to be understood as strictly a person with means starting out his/her ideas with end in mind of becoming richer however entrepreneurship is to be understood as having drive and motivation to create / contribute more values to the economies around us. And values should not be narrowly defined as monetary value, as it only 1 of the many values produced. Hence, appreciation of the journey of where it has been, where it is now and where it will be is the right context to comprehend the values contributed / to be contributed to the societies.

In the journey of value creation/contribution, the most important fact that glues all participants is that no one is above the others, no one is more superior than the others, no one is a star player because every one is the star. Similar to a stage performance, a scenario will not be played right without all the casts contributing to the act and for each to be able to contribute well to the act it requires everyone to understand the vision, visualize the end and apply self fully. Everyone in the frame is important, no one is excluded. The core spirit of entrepreneurship is found in the ability of harnessing the experiences and the strengths of all in the frame and to direct them in the path forward to achieve the end result.

No startup or entrepreneur to be fret with setback or unsuccessfulness, in fact these should be embraced and anticipated. These are valuable experiences that may be unique and they are true evident of our effort. To disappoint is natural but do not stop, as what an expression says, what does not kill us should make us stronger. These experiences are useful to improve us, to enable us to be more resilient and be more nimble. These allow us to appreciate things from different perspectives.

The government means serious business in building the nation’s capacity. It is going to great lengths in ensuring that development of supporting elements, such as infrastructure, to facilitate and to encourage higher economic activities in the country. The call is made to all, in particular the middle class. Why the middle class? Simply, size. According to the World Bank’s data, there are 52 million Indonesians in the middle-class category which represents 43 percent of the total household consumption. The government investment in infrastructure and in social investment are geared towards expanding the population of the middle-class.

The government is looking forward to an active middle-class that are cognizant of the need for resource allocation and for financial planning. The government aspiration and Ciputra’s passion converge in wanting to see more people taking up the challenge to become entrepreneurs.

Higher economic activities will allow for more resources to be available for the government to continue its investment in us and for us. When we take up the challenge to become entrepreneur, it does not strictly mean that you resign from employment and start on your own. That is not the only way. Another way for becoming an entrepreneur is by start visualizing of what you can do more in your work /employment, reminding yourself that you are a valuable member of your company and every day the company gives you the opportunity to grow better than yesterday. Another way is by supporting the other entrepreneurs around you.

A big appreciation to the government that is fully cognizant of the importance of embracing technology to drive our growth into the future, evident by our Vision 2020 ie. creating 1000 technopreneurs. This goal is to be achieved via knowledge sharing, technology replication and enhancement and collaboration.

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The writer works as a credit risk adviser Akseleran.com

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