Efforts to establish a strong digital economy foundation in Indonesia have encountered three main challenges, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.
The challenges are related to the cultivation of digital talent, the promotion of research and digital innovation in business, and the establishment of digital and physical infrastructure, he informed.
“The national digital economy framework that Indonesia has developed is to encourage collaboration, foster synergy, maximize leapfrog efforts, ensure inclusiveness and sustainability, and ensure that the foundation of Indonesia’s digital economy is prioritized,” Hartarto said at the “RICH Future Knowledge Cloud Dialogue: 100,000 Digital Talents, AI Governance, and Human Awareness-Based Compass for Happy Digital Ecosystem” event, according to a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
To tackle challenges faced in the development of digital talents, the government has prepared various agendas, which include preparing students for future job demands by making Information and Communication Technology (ICT) a core part of the educational and vocational curriculum, he added.
Then, the government is offering workers lifelong learning and training schemes to help them navigate the dynamics of technological advances.
The government is also working to ensure that all people understand digital technology so that they are more aware and smart in making choices.
To deal with challenges to promoting research and digital innovation in business, the government is focusing on increasing innovation in business circles, including start-ups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), research laboratories, government agencies, and academics, the minister said.
To overcome the challenges of establishing digital and physical infrastructure, the government needs to build the main digital and physical infrastructure, from the demand as well as the supply side, so that the Internet is more easily accessible to individuals, businesses, and government agencies in Indonesia, he added.
“We need to build a conducive environment so that many stakeholders can collaborate across sectors and industries, and encourage investment to support the ability and desire of organizations to research, develop, and apply innovative digital technologies,” Hartarto said.
The value of Indonesia’s digital economy is estimated to increase to US$146 billion by 2025, and climb further to US$330 billion by 2030. This increase is expected to create millions of new jobs and contribute to national economic growth.
Source: Antara News