Time is running out. In only five years, the window of opportunity to make the most of Indonesia’s current demographic profile will start to close. Short-term policies to harness available resources can reap the rewards of this opportunity. And the best thing Indonesia can do is go fishing.
As a country made up of 17,508 islands, Indonesia has huge economic potential in fisheries. The ocean under Indonesian control constitutes four times its land area. However, even though Indonesia has always been a proud maritime nation, the level of development of Indonesia's marine economy is estimated to be only around 25 percent of its total potential.
In the next five years, Indonesia needs improvement in human capital, creating good employment opportunities, and increasing women's involvement in the labour market. Such steps would allow Indonesia to capitalise on its young work force and achieve what is known as the ‘demographic dividend’ — the economic boost afforded by a large number of young workers with few dependents.
