Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government, through its Communication and Informatics Ministry, invited ASEAN nations to support the Indonesian G20 Presidency's agenda this year, the Ministry's Secretary General, Mira Tayibba, noted through a press statement on Friday.

"The importance of digital technology in expediting post-COVID-19 recovery is mirrored in the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) that underscored the importance of inclusive digital transformation," Tayibba stated during the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN-2).

Indonesia's G20 Presidency upholds the theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger". Three priority issues will be brought to this international forum: inclusive global health architecture, digital-based transformation, and energy transition.

The ministry, as the leader in the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), highlighted collective efforts to utilize digital technology to handle COVID-19 and build a strong ecosystem to respond to future crisis.

The priority issues that Indonesia will bring within the DEWG G20 are post-COVID-19 recovery and connectivity; digital skill and literacy; cross-nation data flow.

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The digital sector is experiencing a growth in the ASEAN, especially during the course of the pandemic, as member countries utilize digital technology for economic recovery.

The digital ecosystem in the ASEAN that continues to grow plays an important role in recovering the economy after the pandemic to become more resilient and comprehensive.

The ministry deemed there should be an exchange of ideas between ASEAN nations to continue bolstering regional cooperation in the digital sector akin to what has been described in the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025.

"It should be remembered that post-COVID-19 recovery and digital transformation should be conducted concurrently," Tayyiba noted.

"By strengthening regional cooperation in the digital sector, the ASEAN could realize its opportunity to recover together and recover stronger," she stated.

The government is ready to strengthen collaboration and cohesiveness of cooperation between ASEAN member countries to achieve an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable post-pandemic economic recovery. "Digital transformation should be inclusive, so that the positive and productive benefits from the digital space could be felt by the entire group of people with no exceptions," she remarked.
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Translator: Natisha A, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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