The information technology sector is poised to be one of the main pillars of the Indonesian government as it continues to build on existing digital ventures and to amplify its digital transformation.
During a virtual meeting, Ahmad M. Ramli, the Director General at the Post and Information Administration (PPI) of the Ministry of Communication and Information, said that the administration will help develop a string of e-commerce platforms for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or MSMEs which, in turn, can help spur more job opportunities. To achieve these goals, he explained that the PPI will be closely monitoring “quality of service in the post and logistics sector”, as part of initiatives to drive focus on expanding its services.
He added, “This is an important part and this is PPI’s flagship programme this year in which the Telecommunication Monitoring Center and Post and Logistics and Broadcasting Monitoring Center will be an important part of the Ministry moving forward.”
The department also stated that it will be putting up industrial regulations that can usher digital transformation and collaboration among various government sectors. It expressed anticipation that once integration in government is strengthened, it will drive growth to the country’s domestic sector. It plans to pattern new policies to drive domestic growth. These arrangements, according to the Director General of PPI, shall be based on best practices showcased by a slew of other countries like the U.S. and the U.K., as well as of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Ramli further noted that one of the policies they are planning to lay down is a “follow-up” regulation to the Job Creation Law. This law was passed last year and aims to generate more job opportunities and encourage foreign and domestic investment by easing regulatory requirements for getting business permits and also in processing land acquisitions.
Apart from streamlining operations, the department noted that they are focused on fostering a healthy atmosphere in the industrial sector. They acknowledged that their “job is to maintain the health and growth of the industry because, in the end, a healthy industry will be able to provide excellent service excellence to the community, contribute to the state and also support all telecommunications services”.
Launching new health applications
The PPI likewise mentioned that the launching of new mobile applications will ultimately scale up services in the healthcare sector. To strengthen this position, he cited the Care and Protect application which has seen increased patronage from the public. The app currently has 26 million users due to a surge in applications for COVID-19 vaccines. It is anticipates that 180 million people would access the app in the future. This is one of the top achievements of the government and has played a significant role in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.
The Indonesian government has made significant strides to digitise the healthcare sector amid the pandemic. As cited in a report by OpenGov Asia, the Ministry of Health is looking at integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) technology for vaccine storage and distribution. The Ministry said it is interested to utilise a vaccine distribution management system developed by state-owned firm Bio Farma. This new system ensures real-time monitoring of vaccine temperature, storage and shipment. If implemented, the system shall be used for vaccine distribution first.
