Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Former ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal has expressed optimism that Indonesia can become a giant in the Asian continent so long as there is a strategy to make it happen.

"To make it happen, 75 percent of Indonesian population should be in the middle class, and absolute poverty must be zero," Dino stated in his scientific oration on "Indonesian Vision in 21st Century" at Bung Hatta University campus here, on Thursday.

He noted that the number of entrepreneurs in the country should be raised from 400 thousands at present to 4 million, and innovation must be part of the DNA for every individual to progress.

"Both the manufacturing industry as well as education must be developed for all people in the country," he stated.

According to him, Indonesia can become a giant in Asia if everyone in the country could have access to adequate education.

"The quality of education must be improved in order to create a new generation with competitive power at a global level," he emphasized.

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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