Jakarta, July 26 -- Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto said Indonesia can escape the middle-income trap and become a developed country by taking advantage of its demographic bonus.

He said this opportunity can only be realized if the younger generation is prepared to become leaders with strong character, adapt to technological advancements, and respond effectively to global challenges.

"Indonesia will become a developed country if we can move up the income ladder within the next 20 years. And we will only be able to do that if we can take advantage of the demographic bonus," Sugiarto said in a statement here on Sunday.

He made the remarks during a scientific oration titled "Adaptive Generation in the Demographic Bonus E...