Economic Independence Is Not Just Rhetoric: Lessons from Repeated Crises
Editorial Introduction
GerakanMandiri.com believes: economic independence is not an empty slogan, but an urgent necessity. Indonesia has been hit by crises too often, and almost always it is the ordinary people who feel the pain first. This article is born from reflections on an inspiring conversation in Dr. Richard Leeās podcast with Andry Hakim. From there we learn that solutions cannot rely solely on foreign investors or elitist policies. The root of the problemāand also the answerālies in the people themselves: those who dare to stand on their own feet, even if with small steps.
A Crisis That Never Truly Leaves
History records: the 1998 monetary crisis, the 2008 global crisis, and the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pattern repeats: a fragile economy, declining purchasing power, and the small people becoming the first shield. A simple question arisesāwhy is a nation as large as Indonesia still so vulnerable to global storms?
Andry Hakim, in conversation with Dr. Richard Lee, emphasized: the issue lies in a dependency mindset. We have grown too comfortable relying on foreign investment, massive imports, and national debt. Yet, when the storm comes, the first to withdraw are outsiders. What remains is only our own people.
The Lost Mentality of Independence
One of the sharpest criticisms raised was about mentality. Many entrepreneurs are only willing to move if there is government assurance or big capital. Yet this nation is not lacking in creative people. What is missing is the courage to start small, to try, to fail, and to rise again.
As Andry Hakim said:
āIf we keep waiting for big capital, we will never start. What we need is not money first, but the mentality to take the first step.ā
MSMEs: The Forgotten Foundation
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have consistently been the saviors of the economy every time a crisis strikes. When large corporations collapse, MSMEs endure. When mass layoffs occur, MSMEs open new opportunities for those who lost jobs. Yet unfortunately, real support is often absent.
Complicated licensing, difficult access to capital, and lengthy bureaucracy often become obstacles. Whereas, if given room to grow, MSMEs can not only survive but also become the main engine of national independence.
Technology: An Opportunity and a Test
The digital era opens vast opportunities. Marketplaces, social media, and online payment systems make it easier for anyone to start a business. However, it is also a test. We must not end up only as loyal consumers of foreign platforms without daring to become creators or producers.
Independence means daring to enter the digital arena with strong local products. Not just selling cheaply, but building added value, building brands, and building the courage to compete.
The Path to Solutions: Bottom-Up
What can be done?
Change the mentality: stop waiting for āaidā and start with what we have.
Strengthen local ecosystems: support neighborsā products, buy community-made goods, develop our own markets.
Use technology as a weapon: not just for consumption, but for production and distribution.
Encourage collaboration, not just competition: small businesses can grow big if they unite.
Wisdom for the Nation
This story reminds us: independence is not a complex theory in seminars, but the courage of ordinary people to act. From street food vendors shifting to online sales, from housewives sewing masks during the pandemic, to young communities building startups without waiting for giant capital.
They are living proof that true independence grows from below, from consistent small steps, from the courage to try even without guaranteed certainty.
š Sources of Reference & Inspiration
Podcast by Dr. Richard Lee with Andry Hakim (2025)
Ministry of Cooperatives & MSMEs Data (2024) ā āMSMEs as the Backbone of the National Economyā
Katadata.co.id ā āDigitalizing MSMEs: Challenges and Opportunitiesā
