Heaptalk, Jakarta — During a media event commemorating Professor Soemitro’s 108th anniversary, Dr. Harryadin Mahardika, Chairman of Soemitro Center, stated that the economic visionary’s ideas remain relevant today.
“We aim to ground Professor Soemitro’s teachings in modern practice. His thinking remains pertinent, even in today’s rapidly changing world. The U.S., which once championed globalization, is suddenly retreating. We haven’t seen shifts this dramatic in the last 100 years,” said Harryadin during the press conference at Museum Juang Taruna, Tangerang, on Thursday (05/29).
Soemitro often synthesized economic schools of thought, advocating for openness to investment, foreign capital, technology transfer, and balanced trade policies—strategies that were adaptive to the era’s challenges. Today, Indonesia is increasingly protecting its domestic market. For instance, the government now requires Apple to meet domestic component level (TKDN) rules to sell iPhones domestically. Additionally, Indonesia is pursuing industrial self-sufficiency through mineral downstreaming.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ng, CEO of WIR Group, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Soemitro Center in technology initiatives. “We’re committed to developing immersive educational content for school-age youth. Inspiring future economists starts early, so we launched the Mobile VR School. Why immersive tech? Because it accelerates learning. Indonesian youth must embrace technology—it’s their future competition,” said Stephen.
Dr. Kun Wardana Abyoto, a quantum physics expert specializing in AI, highlighted the dual nature of artificial intelligence. “Some view AI as a tool to elevate Indonesia globally, while others see it as a threat. Our youth must wield it wisely—AI shouldn’t replace humans but empower them,” he asserted.
Redi Kalingga, a Fellow at Soemitro Center, emphasized that Professor Soemitro was not just an economist but a patriot. “He served under Sukarno and Suharto, yet never hesitated to critique flawed policies. Similarly, while we support President Prabowo’s administration, we’ll offer constructive feedback when needed,” Redi stated.
Economist Stefan Sapto Handoyo noted Soemitro’s pivotal post-independence contributions: “His genius lay in translating macroeconomics into microeconomic vitality—he’s the father of people’s credit. He knew banking was the heart of the economy; without it, growth stalls.”
Aldila Septiadi, entrepreneur and Founder of WorldWhite, affirmed the enduring power of grassroots economics. “Visit Bandung’s Cigondewah or Margasih districts—people’s economies thrive there. Strengthening small-scale access to capital is transformative,” she concluded.
