The pandemic of COVID-19 has shown that the availability and functioning of digital infrastructures has become very significant and strategic.Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, while delivering the Annual Budget Speech 2020 on Friday.
“The pandemic of COVID-19 has shown that the availability and functioning of digital infrastructures has become very significant and strategic,” Jokowi said while addressing the nation in front of the House of Representatives at the Parliamentary Complex of Senayan in Jakarta.
Hence, about Rp30.5 trillion (around US$2 billion) from the Brief of State Budget 2021 will be allocated for the development of information and communication technology (ICT) in the upcoming year and it will focus on the acceleration of digital transformation, he stated.
It would benefit the nation as it will be used for governance as well as providing fast and efficient public services, such as in the education and health sectors, and also to realize inclusive communities across the development-priority areas, with Internet access for about 4 thousand villages in the outermost regions, he added.
Aside from that, the infrastructure budget of about Rp414 trillion (nearly US$28 billion) will be used for economic recovery, basic needs provision, and connectivity improvement.
“The spend on infrastructure will be directed towards strengthening digital infrastructure as well as pushing logistics efficiency and connectivity,” the President noted. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Rangga Pandu, Suwanti
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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