Indonesia at 80: From Sleeping Tiger to Roaring Lion

The world called it a "rising Tiger." After 27 years, I've realized Indonesia is something far more powerful.

Every August, 17th the air in Indonesia crackles with a special energy. 

It’s a mix of red and white flags, patriotic songs, and a palpable sense of pride as the nation celebrates Hari Kemerdekaan, its Independence Day. 

I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this spectacle for 27 years, building a life here with my Indonesian family and a business that supports 70 Indonesian staff and their families. 

For years, I heard people call Indonesia a "rising Tiger," a fast-developing economy mirroring the Asian economic miracles of the past.

But after nearly three decades, I've come to a different, more powerful conclusion.

Indonesia is not a rising Tiger. It's a roaring lion, just stretching its legs after a long slumber.

The Chains of the Past: A Lion Shackled

To understand Indonesia's true power, you have to look at its history. 

For over 300 years, the  East India Company and later the  government ruthlessly exploited the archipelago's resources and people. 

This wasn't just colonialism; it was a occupation that stripped the Indonesian people of their autonomy, wealth, and dignity.

In 1942, a new chapter of hardship began with the Japanese invasion during World War II. Their occupation, though short, was marked by immense suffering and forced labor. 

Yet, paradoxically, it also sowed the final seeds of revolution. 

The Japanese surrender in 1945 created a power vacuum, and Indonesian nationalists seized the moment.

On August 17, 1945, the declaration of independence was read aloud by Sukarno, the nation's first president. 

But freedom wasn't a gift; it was a declaration that had to be fought for. A long and bloody revolution followed —a testament to the Indonesian people's fierce determination to be free.

The decades that followed were a complex journey. After Sukarno's era, the "New Order" regime under Soeharto brought stability and economic . 

For over 30 years, he ruled. It wasn't until the late 1990s that the country truly began its long, often chaotic transition to a modern democracy.

And this is where the lion begins to stir.

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The Roar of the Future: Unleashed Potential

The last two decades have been a period of profound transformation. 

The lion, once shackled, is now stretching its legs, exploring its new freedom. Indonesia is blessed with an abundance of natural resources—from oil, gold and nickel to palm oil—that are the envy of the world. 

Even more important is its massive, young, and increasingly skilled workforce. With the fourth largest population in the world of over 285 million, it offers the world's most competitive labor costs.

This isn’t just about raw potential. It's about a fundamental shift. 

When you combine abundant resources with the most cost-effective workforce on the planet, you create an unstoppable economic engine.

 It’s no longer a question of "if" but "when" Indonesia will become one of the world's major manufacturing hubs. 

I have no doubt that in the very near future, the goods we buy, the technologies we use, and the products we consume will increasingly bear the label "Made in Indonesia."

On this Independence Day, I am filled with pride—not just for my Indonesian Family and staff in my adopted home, but for the people who have shown me what true resilience looks like. 

To my wife Azizah, my children Xander and Darius , and our 70 + staff members: you should be incredibly proud. 

You are not part of a "rising Tiger." You are part of a roaring lion, a force of nature that is just beginning to realize its immense strength. 

The past was marked by chains, but the future belongs to the roar. And it’s going to be a glorious sound.