Jakarta. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati says Indonesia's most valuable asset to develop as a country is its human resources.

"Indonesia is a wealthy country, and it's coming mostly from its human resources," Mulyani told the alumni of the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) at the offices of the Finance Ministry in Central Jakarta on Monday evening (06/02).

"We must continuously invest in and improve human resources from now on and the future," she added.

The LPDP is a government body that has provided scholarships to 16,295 Indonesian students to study at the world's top universities. LPDP alumni have enjoyed the privilege of being fully funded to obtain world-class education with the backing of taxpayers. There are currently 2,051 alumni who have completed their studies and who are ready to contribute to the Indonesian economy.

"Don't ever think that you're not special citizens, you were paid by the people through taxes and you are only 16,000 out of Indonesia's population of 250 million," Sri Mulyani said. "It's time to give back [to society]."

This year, the Rp 22.5 trillion ($1.69 billion) endowment fund will be funded entirely from the state budget.

However, the LPDP does not require its alumni to have contracts with the government, as they only have to return to Indonesia after completion of their studies and contribute in their selected fields.

"As a minimum contribution, you still can propose big ideas for your country," Sri Mulyani said.

"Never get tired to love the Republic of Indonesia, and please show to everyone that Indonesia is a big country with dignity," she said to roaring applause.

Sri Mulyani initiated the LPDP in 2010 when she was finance minister in the previous administration, but it only became fully operational in 2013.