"I hope that all women running small businesses in this village use this Internet service for boosting their business activities," she said during her visit to Labuan Bajo in Komodo Subdistrict, Manggarai Barat District, on Sunday.
The availability of this Internet connection at the village's Internet kiosk is expected to make local residents to get connected globally, and to enable domestic and foreign tourists to be more comfortable during their stays in Labuan Bajo, she said.
This village's Internet kiosk is a facility which is integrated with the state-own electricity firm PLN's infrastructures.
According to PLN Spokesman Dwi Suryo Abdullah, these villages' Internet kiosks would be built along with the construction of electric power transmission from Labuan Bajo to Ende in East Nusa Tenggara Province.
"Our aim is to provide the local governments, including the villages, with the Internet access facilities. We are preparing 100 Internet access points in every district in East Nusa Tenggara," he said.
Related news: Indonesia's digital economy growth highest in ASEAN: Bekraf
The government keeps attempting to boost Indonesia's digital economy.
In June this year, Deputy of Infrastructure of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) Hari Santosa Sungkari said that Indonesia has recorded the highest growth of digital economy among ASEAN member countries, with 90 percent of growth during 2015-2017.
"During 2015-2017, the growth of Indonesia's digital economy has almost reached 90 percent," Sungkari said, adding that transactions through e-commerce platforms were mostly carried out by creative industry players and small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
In 2017, e-commerce transaction in Indonesia has reached US$8 million, of which US$5 million were made through online stores such as Bukalapak, Tokopedia, and others.
"The interesting fact is that of the US$5 million (transaction), the sellers are small firms led by women," he added.
Related news: Labuan Bajo commercial zone's construction to complete by 2020
Related news: Komodo Island to be developed into very exclusive tourist attraction
Translator: Aji Cakti, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
