Danantara: Go Big or Go Home? at Felfest UI, Depok

“Go big or go home?” was the central question of a discussion I recently joined at Felfest UI in Depok.

We discussed a range of topics, from Danantara Indonesia’s investment mandate and how we determine our investment priorities, to the challenge of attracting top talent and the progress of several strategic projects, including waste-to-energy, a global protein platform, and the development of the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem.

The discussion also brought me back to a fundamental question: why was Danantara created in the first place?

At its core, Danantara is about thinking beyond the present and considering how Indonesia can invest and save for future generations. This requires building a strong, high-quality institution with a long-term perspective, one that can outlast any presidency.

People are at the heart of that ambition. We need to attract the best talent while also preparing the next generation of professionals. Perfect competition is essential. Indonesia needs to continuously develop and compete for talent across finance, technology, energy transition, AI, and other strategic sectors.

We also need every investment to create value beyond financial returns. Through our investments and partnerships, we aim to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, talent, technology, and know-how, ultimately strengthening Indonesia’s competitiveness.

I always value opportunities to engage in open forums like this, where I can share perspectives while also listening to different points of view. After all, how can we improve without feedback?

My thanks to Prof. Muchamad Ikhsan, Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Universitas Indonesia, for the thoughtful discussion and valuable input, as well as Pramudya Oktavinanda, Dara Nasution, and Masyita Crystallin for the insightful exchange.

I am also grateful to ILUNI UI, the students, and everyone who joined and shared their questions, constructive feedback, and hopes for Danantara Indonesia.