Indonesia stands on the brink of a transformative journey to become a global leader in the digital economy by 2045. With the launch of the Indonesia Digital Vision (VID) 2045, also known as the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) is setting the stage for the nation's evolution in the digital age.
The initiative is part of a broader vision to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045, where the country aims to emerge as the fifth-largest economy in the world (one placeholder higher than its current position).
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Current Landscape
Back in October, 2024, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated alongside a new government, marking a critical juncture for Indonesia as it faces the expiration of its 20-year National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) and continues toward its Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.
Indonesia is currently the world's sixth-largest emerging market and tenth-largest economy by purchasing power parity (PPP). While poverty has halved since 1999, inequality persists, with Indonesia's four wealthiest individuals holding more wealth than the poorest 100 million combined. Despite an expanding middle class of 52 million, this segment shrank from 23% of the population in 2018 to 17% in 2023.
According to the World Bank's Indonesia Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), challenges include uneven access to social services, rural-urban divides, and educational setbacks, with only 6.41% of citizens attaining university education and others experiencing 11 months of learning loss during the pandemic. Climate change poses significant risks, with 84.41% of the country’s energy derived from fossil fuels and deforestation contributing 42% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Structural economic reforms have emerged as vital, as 59.9% of workers remain in the informal sector, and 44% of exports are reliant on volatile primary and extractive industries, limiting resilience and long-term growth.
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Focal Pillars
At the heart of the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision is a strategy that leverages the power of digital technology to enhance productivity, efficiency, and innovation across various sectors. Minister Budi Arie Setiadi of Kominfo previously emphasized that the strategy aims to utilize productive and targeted technology to drive long-term national goals. By creating a detailed blueprint for Indonesia's digital transformation, the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision serves as a roadmap for stakeholders across the government, private, and academia sectors to align efforts and overcome challenges.
The approach behind the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision is comprehensive, incorporating ecosystem, sectoral, and territorial strategies. The ecosystem perspective aims to foster a collaborative environment, bringing together government bodies, businesses, academia, and communities to support digital development. This holistic collaboration is seen as essential in building a resilient and sustainable digital infrastructure that will underpin Indonesia's future growth.
A key pillar of the digital vision is the sectoral approach, which focuses on developing specific sectors that will play a crucial role in Indonesia’s digital evolution. The Minister highlighted the involvement of over 50 institutions, ranging from ministries to private sector players, in ensuring that Indonesia's digital development is aligned with the nation's broader goals. This concerted effort is expected to accelerate the progress towards meeting the ambitious targets of the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.
Equally important is the territorial strategy, which emphasizes the need for equitable digital development across all regions of Indonesia. In a country as vast and diverse as Indonesia, it is crucial that digital opportunities are accessible to every citizen, regardless of their location. By empowering local stakeholders and ensuring a uniform distribution of digital infrastructure, the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision seeks to bridge the digital divide and create an inclusive digital economy.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, H.E. Nezar Patria, further underscored the significance of cybersecurity in the digital vision, noting its crucial role in fostering a secure and reliable digital ecosystem. Drawing inspiration from Singapore’s ‘Whole-of-Nation’ approach to cybersecurity, Patria stressed the need for a collective responsibility towards digital security. This not only includes government and industry players but also individuals who must cultivate good cybersecurity habits to protect themselves and their communities from cyber threats. The Ministry's focus on cybersecurity extends beyond simply safeguarding infrastructure; it is about building a culture of awareness and vigilance. This includes educating the public on safe online practices and ensuring that companies and industries invest in strong cybersecurity measures.
In addition to safeguarding the digital space, the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision also prioritizes the development of digital talent. As technology continues to evolve, so too must the workforce that drives it. To meet the growing demand for digital skills, Kominfo is focusing on education and training programs that will equip the Indonesian workforce with the necessary expertise to succeed in a technology-driven economy.
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A Supportive Ecosystem
In alignment with the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, companies like Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), Lintasarta, GoTo, Tencent, and Alibaba Cloud are driving transformative initiatives to accelerate the nation’s digital growth and establish it as a global digital powerhouse.
Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of IOH, emphasized in an exclusive interview with Telecom Review Asia that, “Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison is transforming into an AI-technology company to boost operational efficiency and drive business development. This transformation aligns with Indonesia's Golden Vision 2045 and is guided by five strategic initiatives outlined in the Empowering Indonesia 2024 report.
“These initiatives aim to harness AI’s potential to drive the growth of secondary cities, enhance the digital economy in rural areas, empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), advance agricultural technology, and promote women's empowerment, all contributing to inclusive economic growth and digital transformation.”
This follows Indosat’s remarkable double-digit growth, increased investments in AI to shape Indonesia’s digital future, strategic partnerships with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and key stakeholders (Cisco, BPPTIK, and MoCIT) to advance the nation’s digital transformation, and a collaboration with Nokia to enhance Indonesia’s digital talent and AI adoption capabilities.
Similarly, Lintasarta is contributing to the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision through its innovative platform, the Lintasarta AI Marketplace (LAMP). As CEO, Bayu Hanantasena, explained in an exclusive interview with Telecom Review Asia, “We are committed to adding value to Indonesia's digital ecosystem through integrated, secure, and sustainable technology, in line with the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.
“This platform includes what we internally refer to as LAMP, which stands for Lintasarta AI Marketplace. Through LAMP, we offer AI solutions featuring our own innovations, partner-developed solutions, and third-party offerings. Essentially, it’s a marketplace for collaboration. Though it is still in the early stages, we offer a range of solutions for areas such as talent management and KYC (Know Your Customer), amongst other essential services required by enterprises, especially in the financial sector, a key sector in Indonesia’s economy.”
Moreover, in November, 2024, global giants GoTo, Tencent, and Alibaba Cloud united to bolster Indonesia’s digital growth, supporting cloud infrastructure development, AI integration, and enterprise connectivity. These collaborations aim to empower MSMEs, bridge the rural-urban digital divide, and enhance the nation’s overall digital capabilities.
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Ambitious but Achievable
These initiatives are expected to boost employment, foster innovation, and accelerate economic growth.
The Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision also aims to establish ethical frameworks to guide the deployment of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). By prioritizing ethical considerations in digital development, Indonesia aims to balance technological advancement with societal values, ensuring that privacy and individual rights are protected.
In conclusion, the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision is an ambitious but achievable roadmap for the nation's digital future. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and security, Indonesia is positioning itself to harness the full potential of the digital age. The country's commitment to developing a digital ecosystem that benefits all sectors of society promises to propel Indonesia into a new era of economic growth and global competitiveness.
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