VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has highlighted the importance of inclusiveness in the digital economic era in a meeting with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

At the meeting under the theme "Inclusion in the Age of Disruption: Charting a Common Future", President Jokowi discussed issues on trade, global economy and digital economy with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, according to a statement from the Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin, received on Sunday.

The meeting which took place at the APEC Haus on Saturday (Nov 17) was also attended by ABAC representatives from all four countries and moderated by Richard Cantor from the United States. The Chair of ABAC Indonesia Anindya Bakrie, was present at the meeting,

Director of Intra-Regional and Inter-Regional Cooperation of Asia Pacific and Africa, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andre Omer Siregar said President Jokowi revealed that inclusive economic development using digital platforms is the Indonesian Government`s priority since 2014.

Indonesia is estimated to be the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia by 2020.

As an illustration, President Jokowi explained that in 2017 Indonesia had 132.7 million internet users and 92 million smart phone users.

With this big number of the technology users, the government continuous to complete the construction of digital infrastructure by adding Palapa Ring optical fiber length and widening the frequency spectrum to provide affordable digital access for people.

In addition, Indonesia will implement the E-Commerce Policy Roadmap to support e-commerce development by 17 percent and generate 1,000 technopreneurs in 2020.

President Jokowi explained that Indonesia pays great attention to the younger generation to help them face the challenges in the Technology Revolution 4.0 by promoting vocational education, polytechnics, and vocational training centers.

The government supports the use of technology in all sectors, including online application in education, Ruangguru, and GoJek which is engaged in the transportation sector.

"All these efforts are made to encourage an inclusive economy," President Jokowi said.

The president reminded that digital inequality should be overcome through formulating an internet of things roadmap, providing digital marketing platforms for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) such as Tokopedia and Qlapa.

He also said digital technologies should be used by those live in remote areas through collaboration with online marketplaces in developing e-commerce platforms to market local potentials such as agriculture and fisheries.

The government should improve school curricula to be more prepared to welcome the digital era.

"In this digital era, let`s not forget the inclusiveness aspect so the benefits can be enjoyed by everyone. Ignoring inclusiveness might widen the social gap which could create social problems and conflicts," President Jokowi said.

At the end of the dialogue, President Jokowi warned that tensions among major countries in the trade world would only harm people.

"And this could also result in social conflicts," the president added. (ANTARA)