Indonesia is ready to help Timor Leste optimize its digital sector, Communication and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate said here on Wednesday.

“(We) discussed cooperation in several fields, according to the functions and duties of the respective ministry, in relation to digitalization and the implementation of digital transformation,” Plate said after a meeting with Timor Leste’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication, Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo.

It was a follow-up to a meeting between President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Timor Leste President José Ramos Horta, which discussed potential cooperation between the two countries.

The latest meeting covered topics related to digital transformation, including digital talent preparation programs, the development of supporting infrastructures, and regulatory preparation.

Plate discussed how Indonesia has conducted several programs to boost national digital literacy, such as the National Digital Literacy Movement (GLDN) for the general public, the Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) for the mid-level, and the Digital Leadership Academy (DLA) for policymakers and leaders.

The two ministers also discussed Indonesia’s role in the G20 Presidency in supporting the global digital agenda, specifically the importance of cross-border data flow management.

Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish official cooperation on digitalization, Plate informed.

“Indonesia will prepare experts to train talents from Timor Leste. Hopefully, this exchange of experiences can support the development of upstream and downstream infrastructure in Timor Leste,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jerónimo said that his country is seeking cooperation with Indonesia to increase the utilization of digital infrastructure that has been built in his country.

Source: Antara News