Spread of mobility service and Indonesian cashless society(1)

Spread of mobility service and Indonesian cashless society

In tandem with the e-commerce, fintech and online travel areas, mobility service has been often acclaimed as the leading trailblazer of the Indonesian digital economy. It is due to the rapid development of the mobility industry mainly triggered by ever-intensifying rivalry between Go-Jek and Grab, two and only decacons in Southeast Asia. 

Beginning from the desperate idea of improving chronic traffic congestions in urban districts, both Go-Jek and Grab have risen to their fame as supper applications inevitable for daily lives of the Indonesian people, young generation in particular. 

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia(4)

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia

Starting from the e-commerce field followed by sectors like the co-working space, the mobility  and the fintech  services, young and ambitious startups have been playing crucial roles in taking initiatives to bring digital technology into designing customized solutions in a local context. 

As Bari Arijono  stressed throughout his book, 'Indonesia Digital Nation', digital transformation has been widely undergoing all over major industries in Indonesia.

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia(3)

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia

A growing number of venture capitals and startup incubators sense exceptional business opportunities of Indonesia especially in terms of the market size. In fact, as the world's biggest archipelago with 17,000 or so islands, Indonesia has little choices but to rely upon online or mobile platforms to have more people advantaged from the convenience and efficiency of the digital economy. 

In this regard, it is no wonder that Indonesia has been through hottest startup craze in Southeast Asia over the last decade.

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia(2)

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia

These advantages of the two countries, namely Singapore in quality way and Indonesia in quantity way, have been exercising salient powers in generating most notable startups in the region. The fact that 8 out of 10 unicorns in Southeast Asia are headquartered either in Singapore or in Indonesia proves the significance of the two countries in the developments of the digital economy. 

It seems that Indonesia has caught eyes of the global investment industry more actively than Singapore in the regional competition of startup waves.

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia(1)

Global eyes on startup fever in Indonesia

Among 11 countries in Southeast Asia, Singapore and Indonesia has been viewed as spearheading the advent of the digital economy across the region. It is little doubt that Singapore is the financial and technological hub of Southeast Asia with its delicately developed free-market economy. 

Blessed with the world's 4th largest population of around 260 million people, Indonesia takes approximately 40% of the total GDP of the Southeast Asian economy. 

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia(4)

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia

This could explain why global investment experts have been paying closer attention to this area where the youth covering roughly half of the whole population are climbing on the brand new era of the digital economy. 

In this sense, it may not be too much to say that a rosy outlook on the startup fad in Southeast Asia is likely to be maintained for the time being.

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia(3)

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia

Why startup markets in Southeast Asia have been much spotlighted? Hugh growth potential in the region would be singled out above all things. The number of internet users in key countries of Southeast Asia like Myanmar and the Philippines has been mounting the fastest on the planet. 

There is eye-catching prediction that a whopping 480 million people almost nearing the entire inhabitants  of the European Union will be fairly accessed to internet in Southeast Asia by 2020.

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia(2)

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia

According to Tech in Asia , startups in Southeast Asia were awarded with as much as $10.9 billion in investment in 2018. This figure is over 30% higher than the total startup investment of $7.9 billion in 2017. This is far startling because investment in Southeast Asian startups failed to reach even $1 billion in 2013. 

Consequently, 10 unicorns  have been emerged in the region. VNG, an online game platform in Vietnam and Go-Jek, an Indonesian application-based ride-hailing service provider are renowned digital players.

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia(1)

Recent startup boom across Southeast Asia

Startup boom deserves to be named as one of the hot issues in Southeast Asia these days. Startup markets across Southeast Asia have been rapidly gaining momentums. 

As a matter of fact, locally born leaders of the digital economy  such as Grab in Singapore which acquired the Southeast Asian business unit of Uber in early 2018 have been credited for redrawing the conventional industrial map in the region. 

Should Go to a College?(6)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

Expectation on the first graduates of two meister high schools in February of 2013, 'Suwon Hi-tech High School(Industrial-educational collaboration)' and 'Wonju Medical Instruments High School(Differentiation)' is high. These schools would be especially important to those parents whose kids soon advance to high schools. 

It is a still long way to go. But from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope stories of these schools will surely spread to all over the country. In doing so, this book can serve a timely opportunity to have the society slept on the significance of all-pervading academic cliquism-inflation and desirable models of vocational education in Korea.

Should Go to a College?(5)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

5 other high schools were finally selected and introduced to this e-book along with Bubsung High School. Foundation principles and goals of these schools are all different. In addition, these 6 schools aren't yet to be called best vocational schools in Korea. 

However, there's no doubt these schools have enhanced unique education programs to bring up young talented resources. 'Bubsung High School(School Enterprise)', 'Seoul Girls' Commercial High School(Personality Education)', 'Suwon High School for Agricultural Science(Customized Education)' and 'Induk Technical High School(Internationalization)' are special high schools where the Korean public should exemplify.

 

Should Go to a College?(4)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

After my article was released, Korean media professionals rushed to Bubsung High School to cover them into their own and even Japanese business start-ups came to Korea to benchmark the school. My story's sudden fame brought me a great confidence as well. 

My book was born based upon these backgrounds. Since Bubsung High School, I have pondered over how to engage myself in other cases of exemplary special high schools and meister high schools.

Should Go to a College?(3)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

Bubsung High School's story is something more than good news. I was obligated that the public has a right to appreciate this trivial, but meaningful success story. 

In fact, the story imminently showcased a negative impact from Korean hakbulism(academic cliquism) which resulted in discrimination and alienation against graduates of special high schools and fierce competition in resume management to college graduates, I believe.