{
  "id": 6094704,
  "title": "From Vladivostok to Gunungkidul: Indonesia must export skills, not just workers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/from-vladivostok-to-gunungkidul-indonesia-must-export-skills-not-just",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-07T03:10:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/09/07/from-vladivostok-to-gunungkidul-indonesia-must-export-skills-not-just-workers.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesia must shift from merely exporting cheap labor to exporting skilled professionals to make its global diplomacy more effective, according to a report. President Prabowo Subianto's recent visit to Vladivostok as a guest of honor at the Eastern Economic Forum exemplifies the president's relentless pursuit of international trade, investment, and cooperation. However, despite Prabowo's efforts to address trade deals, foreign investment, energy security, and defense cooperation, one critical economic asset—people—remains underutilized. In a stark contrast to the opulent halls of Vladivostok, we find the story of Slamet, a 35-year-old father drowning in debt who crossed the border to Taiwan on a tourist visa and ended up in the undocumented workforce. Slamet's death left his family with an astronomical bill of Rp 150 million (US$8,500) to repatriate his body. This tragedy underscores the dire state of Indonesia's domestic labor market, where lack of opportunities forces individuals to make desperate choices abroad, often leading to heartbreak. Even within Indonesia's strengths, such as the maritime sector, there is a significant gap. While over 260,000 Indonesian seafarers work abroad, a majority are confined to low-wage fishing boats instead of higher-paying roles like cruise liners, tugs, or commercial tankers. In comparison, the Philippines actively supports its maritime sector and has a well-established training pipeline, successfully exporting certified professionals and commanding a significant share of the global merchant fleet's crew. The report argues that Indonesia must adopt a more strategic approach to talent export, akin to its successful maritime industry, to fully capitalize on its human capital and enhance its global standing.",
  "summary": "If Indonesia wants its global diplomacy to truly pay off, it must stop sending cheap labor into the shadows and start exporting certified talent the world will actually invest in.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}