SUMUT DISCUSSION CLUB
The Biggest Challenge If You Can't Take Advantage of the Opportunities Opened by MEA 2015
The biggest challenge is not being able to take advantage of the opportunities opened by the ASEAN Economic Community or MEA 2015. This was expressed by economic observer Polin Pos Pos, PhD., when he was a comparative resource person at the North Sumatra Discussion Club (SDC) event with the theme of Regional Development Inequality in the Framework of Economic Independence Towards the ASEAN Economic Community 2015, Friday (17/4) in the Multipurpose Room on the 5th Floor of the Royal Prima Hospital, Jalan Ayahanda Medan.
"We are all concerned that with the free market, opportunities will emerge as well as challenges. In essence, the biggest challenge is whether we can take advantage of the opportunities that are open," said Polin Pos Pos, PhD.,
The Talk-Show-SDC held by Universitas Prima Indonesia and the RE Foundation was attended by the Head of Bappeda North Sumatra Dr. Arsyad Lubis, M.M., Head of Advisors Unpri dr. I Nyoman Ehrich Lister, M.Kes., AIFM., Head of BPH Dr. Tommy Leonard, S.H., M.Kn, Head of Advisors YP Pangeran Antasari Dr. Heriyanti, S.H., M.Kn, Advisor to Royal Prima Hospital dr. Sofyan Wijaya, M.H.A., Advisor to RE Foundation Dr. RE Nainggolan, M.M., Director of Royal Prima Hospital dr. Deli Theo, Sp. PK., MARS., Vice Rector I Seno Aji, S.Pd., M.Eng., Prac., Chairman of Commission D DPRD North Sumatra Mustofawiyah, representing the Head of BPS North Sumatra Ateng Suhartono, Professor of FE USU Prof. Bachtiar Sinulingga, Dean of FE UHN Dr. Parulian Simanjuntak, Honorary Consul of Poland Dr. Jonner Napitupulu, USU Economic Expert Wahyu A Pratono and Unpri economic expert Benny RM Nainggolan, S.E., M.Si.
According to this senior lecturer, if we cannot take advantage of the open opportunities, it means we will be crushed. A study by an international cliber organization said that Indonesia was not included in the last twenty years to enjoy the opportunities opened by the ASEAN Economic Community. In fact, only three countries can enjoy it, namely the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar.
"Because of that, it is possible that Indonesia will only be a spectator in its own country," Polin Pos Pos firmly stated. What is feared, said Polin Pos Pos, is that because we are unable to compete, we who were once producers of goods, will eventually become agents selling goods from abroad. So, there will be no more production process. As a result, there will be no more workers and the number of unemployed will increase.
Meanwhile, the Head of Bappeda North Sumatra Dr. Arsyad Lubis, M.M., explained about the value of the GRDP per capita ADHB with oil and gas in North Sumatra 2010-2012. As well as about the impact of economic growth on the average reduction in the number of unemployed 2008-2012.
Then, the Advisor of the RE Foundation Dr. Nainggolan, M.M., said, whether we like it or not, North Sumatra must enter the ASEAN Economic Community. Therefore, North Sumatra must immediately prepare itself to face the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015. Because, the most concrete impact of the AEC agreement will create a free market in the fields of capital, goods and services and labor.
Therefore, through the North Sumatra Discussion Club, it will help North Sumatra to advance. According to RE Nainggolan, there are several very important discussion points that can be taken. First, how is the infrastructure readiness in North Sumatra that can provide support, so that the ASEAN Economic Community can provide benefits for North Sumatra. Second, how can North Sumatra anticipate ready-to-use foreign workers coming to North Sumatra.
"For that, we must be able to further improve the capabilities of our workforce, so that when dealing with foreign workers we are not left behind," he said.
RE Nainggolan mentioned again, the low capacity of human resources in managing government and regional performance so that their role as drivers of economic development is not yet optimal. In this case, the success factors that must be prepared in facing the 2015 MEA, for example, are strengthening government institutions and regional economies, as the driving force for the effectiveness of regulation and efficiency of utilization of economic resources in the region.
After the Talk-Show-SDC, the Head of BPH Dr. Tommy Leonard, S.H., M.Kn., added that the purpose of this activity is to provide understanding and improve regional readiness, especially the North Sumatra region in facing the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community.
According to this young Doctor, the Talk-Show-SDC is a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas regarding regional conditions and the challenges that will be faced by regions in welcoming the 2015 MEA. That is why the topic was raised ahead of the 2015 MEA.
Welcoming the ASEAN Economic Community, said Tommy, Unpri has prepared and equipped students with English and Mandarin in collaboration with various universities such as from Taiwan, England and Singapore.
Currently, his party has formed an Unpri management institution, which focuses specifically on Unpri alumni themselves, starting from the Faculty of Law, Engineering, Nursing and others will be certified in facing the MEA.
The same thing was also conveyed by Vice Rector I Unpri Seno Aji, he said, discussions like this will be routinely held to build North Sumatra. The discussion topics raised are how to improve, raise awareness of the readiness of the North Sumatra community, and this is considered necessary especially for figures, stakeholders, government, entrepreneurs and the community.
And, Unpri as a higher education institution in North Sumatra has a role to contribute in real terms. For that, Unpri will provide logical thoughts, and it is hoped that it can be an important input for the local government.
And, Unpri as an institution of higher education in North Sumatra has a role to contribute in real terms. For that, Unpri will provide logical ideas, and it is hoped that it can be an important input for the local government.
Present were the Head of Bappeda North Sumatra Dr. Arsyad Lubis, M.M., Head of Unpri Advisors dr. I Nyoman Ehrich Lister, M.Kes., AIFM., Head of BPH Dr. Tommy Leonard, S.H., M.Kn., Head of YP Pangeran Antasari Advisors Dr. Heriyanti, S.H., M.Kn., Advisor of RE Foundation Dr. Nainggolan, M,M., Advisor of Royal Prima Hospital dr. Sofyan Wijaya, M.H.A., Director of Royal Prima Hospital dr. Deli Theo, Sp. PK., MARS., and Vice Chancellor I Seno Aji, S.Pd., M.Eng., Prac.