AI to become game-changer for Indonesia's economy: Airlangga

Shanghai (ANTARA) - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto underscored that artificial intelligence (AI) can become a "game-changer" for Indonesia's economy.

Speaking in Shanghai on Friday evening, he stressed that Indonesia can move forward alongside other nations by leveraging AI.

The statement was conveyed during a press conference alongside Indonesian Deputy Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Angga Raka Prabowo and the Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia, Djauhari Oratmangun.

Hartarto noted that Indonesia's digital economy is projected to reach US$135 billion by 2026 and surge to US$366 billion by 2030.

This, he said, aligns with Indonesia's proposal under the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is expected to be signed during the Philippine chairmanship this year.

"This framework will double ASEAN's digital economy from US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion, while further boosting Indonesia's own potential from US$400 billion to US$600 billion," Hartarto said.

According to Hartarto, developing the digital economy and AI is not new for Indonesia, as the government launched the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap in 2018, which included AI as a core component.

"AI has the potential to boost Indonesia's revenue. Under a business-as-usual scenario, its potential reaches up to US$400 billion by 2030, but if implemented alongside the digital economy framework, that figure could climb to US$2 trillion," he added.

Furthermore, the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) can now be used for cross-border payments in various currencies, including several ASEAN nations, as well as China, Japan, and South Korea.

"Additionally, as a signatory country of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), Indonesia is classified as a founding member of the organization, granting us direct access to high-level discussions regarding AI development," the minister emphasized.

On Thursday, Hartarto represented Indonesia at the signing ceremony for the founding declaration of the WAICO in Shanghai.

He noted that by leveraging WAICO, Indonesia can expand opportunities for technology transfers, investment, and AI research center development, as well as enhance the productivity and competitiveness of local startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

On the same occasion, Deputy Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Angga Raka Prabowo highlighted Indonesia's eagerness to play an active role in the formulation of global AI governance, which includes promoting ethics, driving economic potential, and advancing education and domestic healthcare services.

This also aligns with the Draft Presidential Regulation on the 2026 to 2029 Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, which Prabowo noted is expected to be signed by President Prabowo Subianto in the near future.

The roadmap serves as a strategic framework that focuses on strengthening governance, infrastructure, human capital, and research to achieve digital sovereignty and drive national economic growth.

Related news: Indonesia joins WAICO as founding member to boost AI development

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Translator: Desca Lidya, Raka Adji

Editor: Arie Novarina

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