VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Delegates at the first G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) meeting agreed on the importance of equitable telecommunication access for all sections of the community, particularly vulnerable groups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Equitable digital connectivity for all layers of the community has increasingly become important, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged various human activities to (be shifted to the) digital space amid physical limitations. Hence, the approach is not only limited to physical infrastructure aspect but also must be human centric-oriented,” Secretary General of the Communication and Informatics Ministry and DEWG Chair Mira Tayyiba said.

This applies to all sections of the community, particularly to ensure the continuation of MSMEs’ businesses and vulnerable groups’ activities, she added in a press statement released on Wednesday.

During the meeting, delegates from other G20 member states provided constructive inputs to support post-pandemic connectivity so that it can be realized optimally, she informed.

Of course, this will facilitate the execution of decisions in the future as many deep discussions have been held in accordance with the vision of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, she said.

“In the first session of the 1st DEWG Meeting this time, the delegates have expressed their support for the issue of DEWG Priority One that the Indonesian President has raised. Several G20 member states have also given various constructive inputs by expanding the priority issue of connectivity and post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery into sub-topics or more concrete detailed agenda,” she said.

While discussing the first DEWG priority issue, G20 member states also welcomed the Indonesian President’s proposal to elevate the Digital Innovation League (DIN) and hold a Digital Transformation Expo (DTE), she added.

“The delegates also paid attention to the application of multi-disciplinary approaches for discussing digital connectivity. In addition, they also warmly welcomed (the proposal to) elevate Digital Innovation League into Digital Innovation Network and expressed support (for the proposal) to hold Digital Transformation Expo. We have made a note of various inputs conveyed at the forum that we will consider later on,” she informed.

The 1st DEWG meeting was opened by Indonesian Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, and was led by DEWG chair Tayyiba and alternate chair Dedy Permadi.

Delegates of G20 member states and international organizations, including Global Knowledge Partners and National Knowledge Partners, joined the meeting virtually. (Antaranews)