Foreign investment is crucial for fostering the growth of Indonesia’s digital economy. Information about Indonesia’s digital ecosystem is crucial to pique the interest of investors. Therefore, The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has been trying to attract more foreign investment, particularly in the digital economy.
Bonifasius Wahyu Pudjianto, Director of Informatics Empowerment at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics’ Directorate General of Informatics Applications acknowledges the more foreign investors visit Indonesia, the more opportunities for business collaboration between foreign investors and Indonesian startups will arise.
He was optimistic that foreign investors would be willing to invest in or develop collaborations with Indonesian businesses, “The more private equity, venture capital and charitable investors we can bring in, the better.”
Moreover, European investors are encouraged by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics to attend the HUB.ID Summit, a networking event scheduled for next September in Bali. Usman Kansong, Director General of Information and Public Communication at the Ministry of Communications and Informatics mentioned the HUB.ID Summit 2023 is meant to bring together investors and national digital startup players to promote the growth and expansion of startup businesses.
“To create greater chances for startup companies in the whole nation to get investors on an international scale. We believe that investors who might be interested will also be present in Bali to come in person, find out first-hand, and maybe even be able to visit our startup headquarters,” he explained.
Apart from attracting investment, Indonesia is pursuing new international relationships for digital transformation. Indonesia and Germany have recently signed a cooperation accord. The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics (MOCI) signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDoI) to collaborate on digital transformation during the Indonesian-German Digital Dialogue (IGDD).
The meeting was attended by representatives from both countries, with Indonesia represented by Usman and Germany represented by Benjamin Brake, Director General of Digital and Data Policy. Usman claims that the inaugural IGDD meeting included exchanging information and discussing digital policy developments that will be incorporated into the Work Plan.
“The Digital Policy and Strategy Agreement, the Data Policy Agreement, the Internet Management Practices and Regulations Agreement, the Digital Technology Agreement, the Digital Transformation Agreement, and the Digital Inclusion Agreement are all part of the agreements for partnership in the field of digital policy and strategy,” he concluded after the IDGG conference. “This Work Plan is meant to establish the goals and targets of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics and BMDV in 2023 and 2024.”
During the inaugural IGDD meeting, the discussion centred on the “Objectives and Priorities of the Indonesian-German Digital Dialogue,” which included digital policy and strategy, developing digital technology, and digital business prospects and models.
Usman explained how the government would implement the deal by providing the necessary regulations. He oversaw an Indonesian group that comprised people from the sector of the economy that would feel the deal’s effects most acutely. Furthermore, situations differ from country to country, calling for different regulatory approaches.
“While it’s possible to synchronise a method that has already been carried out in several countries, we need to examine whether it will be acceptable for use in the country,” he reiterated.
Therefore, all parties must be incentivised to encourage the development of digital technology, stated the Director General of IKP of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. He believes the deal would help them transition from being merely consumers of IT to creators of it.
