Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Indonesia is ready to become a developed country which has often been heard in recent times. Especially when the contestation for the Presidential Election (Pilpres) begins.

Everyone talked about Indonesia's hopes of being on par with the United States (US) and friends. However, it is important to realize that the challenges that must be overcome are not easy. A simple example is the average income of Indonesian people.

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin revealed the requirements for a country to be categorized as a developed country. One of them is that the residents have a salary of IDR 15 million per month or cumulatively IDR 180 million per year (US$13,000).

“So as long as it hasn't been implemented, it can't enter developed countries,” said Budi at the Joint Inauguration of the Public Service Mall (MPP) and Strengthening Commitment to Implement Digital MPP with regional heads last weekend.

He made this statement in order to remind regional heads who were present at the MPP Digital Launch event that their task ahead would be difficult. They are obliged to realize that high income for their respective communities within the next 6-11 years or to be precise in the 2030-2035 period.

This period is the period when the demographic bonus occurs or the dominance of the productive age population with an age range of 15-60 years. If that time passes and the Indonesian population is not yet paid IDR 15 million per month, they will forever be trapped in the middle income trap category because the population will soon grow old before they become rich.

“Well, in my opinion, Brazil is very difficult to become a developed country because its population is old, aging. It doesn't have the fuel of momentum to reach the US$ 13 thousand mark, it's only US$ 8,200 per year now,” said Budi.

The Indonesian people's income is currently still in the range of IDR 5 million per month, or IDR 60 million per year, equivalent to US$ 4,800 per year with the majority of the population being young. So, extra work is needed to increase income within 6-11 years to triple it, or IDR 15 million per month.

Budi said, to obtain such a high income, people must be equipped with two aspects, the first is being healthy, and the second is being smart. However, Budi reminded that the most important thing is to be healthy from childhood so that you don't get stunted, so that you can be smart and productive from a young age until adulthood.

“I like debates with Mr. Nadiem (Minister of Education), healthy first or smart first, sir? Healthy first, sir. Why? If he is stunted, he won't be smart,” stressed Budi.

“So, my message, ladies and gentlemen, is to make our society healthy so that the salary can be IDR 15 million per month, so that Indonesia can become a developed country in 2030. So that our children and grandchildren can experience life in a developed country,” he said.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(arm/mij)