INDONESIA TO TRANSFORM TECH SECTOR, REDUCE DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN MARKETS

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, May 7 (Bernama) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo is pushing for a transformation in the country’s technology sector, aiming to shift it from being a consumer to a producer, thus reducing dependence on foreign markets.

Widodo, also known as Jokowi, envisions Indonesia playing a crucial role in the global tech supply chain, requiring bold innovations to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology.

“I’m grateful that we now have the Indonesia Digital Test House (IDTH), an international-standard testing centre, built at a cost of 980 billion rupiah (US$61 million) with modern equipment,” he said at the IDTH opening ceremony today.

It was broadcast live via the official YouTube channel of Sekretariat Presiden.

Located in Depok, West Java, the IDTH certifies digital devices, such as laptops, bluetooth devices, and mobile phones, ensuring that they meet safety and user standards before release.

Jokowi expressed hope that the IDTH, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, will become a hub for driving innovation, strengthening the local digital technology ecosystem and providing easy access to certification.

He pointed out that Indonesia’s heavy reliance on imported technology, has led to a trade deficit of nearly US$2.1 billion, or over 30 trillion rupiah.

Imports dominate testing requests, with China providing 3,046 devices compared to Indonesia’s 632, Jokowi said, adding that out of 320 global Apple device suppliers, the Philippines has 17; Malaysia, 19; Thailand, 24, and Vietnam, 72.

“Surprisingly, Indonesia, despite boasting the largest share of ASEAN gross domestic product at 46 per cent, only has two suppliers,” he said.

-- BERNAMA