Note: Speakers presenting ideas to participants at the Gen Z Festival 2023. Photo: Ist..
JAKARTA, JAKTIMES.COM – CentennialZ, an association of the Centennial Generation Z, held the Gen Z Festival 2023 at the MNC Conference Hall in Jakarta. The event was attended by national figures, entrepreneurs, and young inspirators.
Among them were Muhammad Lutfi, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia from 2020 to 2022, Bahlil Lahadalia, the Minister of Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, the Executive Chairman of MNC Group, Silmy Karim, the Director-General of Immigration, politicians, and Iwan Bule, the Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) from 2019 to 2023, Arief Rosyid Hasan, the Independent Commissioner of BSI, Bagas Adhadirga, the Chairman of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurship Association, young politicians Rahayu Saraswati, Tsamara Amany, Najmi Mumtaza, Manik Marganamahendra, and many more.
Kicking off the Gen Z Festival 2023, Dinno Ardiansyah, the Chairman of CentennialZ, stated that the event was a momentum for the rise of Generation Z. “Starting from a community, CentennialZ has now become an association, and we are moving forward to establish CentennialZ as a foundation focused on media and entrepreneurship, to elevate ourselves together,” said Dinno.
Dinno mentioned three focal issues that are challenging Generation Z today. These issues include the high cost of living, limited career support, and problems of inequality and poverty.
“While there are other issues, these three points are the closest to Gen Z. Therefore, we have invited speakers from various backgrounds and expertise to delve into the issues that concern us and perhaps gain insights from Gen Z,” added Dinno.
In addition to empowering Generation Z, during the Gen Z Festival events, Dinno also addressed the upcoming elections. He emphasized that Gen Z must be part of the 2024 elections with rationality and a resistance to vote-buying. “Gen Z’s voice cannot be bought. Therefore, whoever the candidates may be in the future elections, they must adopt a rational political approach,” said Dinno.
On this occasion, Muhammad Lutfi, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia from 2020 to 2022, explained how to address the issues raised at the Gen Z Festival 2023.
Agreeing with what Chairman CentennialZ Dinno Ardiansyah conveyed, Muhammad Lutfi, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia from 2020 to 2022, also emphasized that Indonesia faces numerous challenges and tasks at present, one of which is increasing the GDP per capita threefold to reach 12,500 before the demographic bonus runs out.
According to the man who has also served as Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States and the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the only way to address future economic problems is by not selling one’s vote at the wrong booth during the upcoming Indonesian democratic festivities in 2024.
“Our demographic bonus will run out between 2038 and 2040. What should we do? There is only one thing, as Dinno mentioned earlier, do not sell your votes. Once again, for all of Generation Z, do not sell your votes to the wrong booth,” concluded Lutfi.
On this occasion, Arief Rosyid Hasan, the Independent Commissioner of BSI, also conveyed a similar message to the thousands of attending Generation Z individuals. Quoting his late grandfather, K.H. Ali Yafie, Arief stated that young people must know themselves, know how to carry themselves, and know their place.
“My late grandfather, K.H. Ali Yafie, advised that young people must know themselves, know how to carry themselves, and know their place. For example, as Dinno mentioned, Gen Z should not be for sale. You must know your position and how to maximize what you have. Furthermore, as Bang Lutfi said, the voice of Generation Z should not be sold at the wrong booth,” said Arief Rosyid Hasan, who is also part of the National Youth Service Task Force.
The Gen Z Festival 2023 organized by CentennialZ serves as a platform for Generation Z to showcase their potential, creativity, and ideas. Held on July 8, 2023, at the MNC Conference Hall, the event is expected to become an annual gathering for CentennialZ (Wan)