Press Release No. 438/HM/KOMINFO/12/2021
Friday, December 10, 2021
About
Connectivity, Digital Literacy, and Data Flow
as Indonesia’s Priority Issues in the G20 Digital Economy Working Group
The advancement of digital technology has expedited the growth and development in various sectors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Nevertheless, the disruption of digital technology inevitably exposes the digital divide, especially in terms of connectivity access, people's digital skills and literacy, as well as cross-border data utilization.
Through its G20 Presidency in 2022, Indonesia is honored to have the responsibility to chair the first Digital Economy Working Group, which was elevated from the status of task force in the Italy’s Presidency.
“The elevation of the Digital Economy Task Force to the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) in which platform provides greater credence and allows more comprehensive discussion on cross-cutting digital issues under G20,” said the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Chair of DEWG, Mira Tayyiba, in the First G20 Sherpa Meeting on December 7th, 2021, in Jakarta.
Three Priority Issues in the DEWG
Taking into consideration the strategic, dynamic, and multi-dimensional nature of digital economy, Indonesia’s Presidency raises 3 (three) priority issues that will be conferred in the DEWG, namely:
(1) Post COVID-19 Recovery and Connectivity;
(2) Digital Skills and Digital Literacy; and
(3) Cross-Border Data Flow and Data Free Flow with Trust.
Through these three priority issues, Indonesia is seeking to bring forth a substantive and concrete discussion to the G20 table.
The DEWG is expected to explore prospective solutions for the global and cross-sectoral digital economy challenges that are apparent in various countries. “In some parts of the world, rapid innovation of digital technology has led to unprecedented challenges that we have never encountered before. The issue of complex interplay between stakeholders in digital landscape and level of playing field should be discussed and faced together,” stated Secretary-General Mira in her opening remarks.
As the Chair of DEWG as well as the leading sector of digital issues in Indonesia, the Ministry of Communications and Informatics views that Indonesia’s G20 Presidency could contribute to the acceleration of Indonesia’s Digital Transformation Agenda. DEWG would enable concrete actions and collaborations between G20 member states to bolster an equal and sustainable digital-based transformation for global recovery.
Furthermore, Indonesia possesses an immense opportunity in bringing novelty during its G20 Presidency. As one of the developing countries in G20 members, Indonesia would introduce a more inclusive and fairer digital agendas, such as promoting equal access to connectivity and digitalization, developing digitally skilled communities, strengthening the potential of MSMEs through the adoption of digital technology, as well as encouraging continued global collective efforts in handling the COVID-19 pandemic so that the world can recover together soon.
Recover Together, Recover Stronger.
Jakarta, December 10, 2021
Spokesperson for MCIT
Dedy Permadi