It is predicted that by 2030, there will be a shortage of 47 million digital talents in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, Indonesia needs around 600 thousand digital talents every year. To that end, the government has initiated various policiesJakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has initiated several policies to support the development of digital talent, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has emphasized.
"It is predicted that by 2030, there will be a shortage of 47 million digital talents in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, Indonesia needs around 600 thousand digital talents every year. To that end, the government has initiated various policies," he said in an official statement received here on Friday.
The value of Indonesia's digital economy in 2021 was the highest among ASEAN countries at US$70 billion, he noted.
This value has been forecast to increase to US$330 billion by 2030. With this rapid increase, the need for digital talent, the main navigator for driving the digital ecosystem, is also projected to increase. Therefore, the government is trying to encourage the development of digital talent and infrastructure through various policies, the minister explained.
Related news: G20 DEMM: Indonesia, Argentina explore ICT cooperation
One of the policies initiated by the government is the end-to-end digital Pre-Employment Card Program to develop work competencies and entrepreneurship through the provision of financial assistance.
The value of the Pre-Employment Card benefits is up to Rp3.55 million for each individual and the program is targeting more than 13 million beneficiaries from 514 districts and cities, Hartarto disclosed.
The government has also made Information and Communication Technology (ICT) a core part of the educational curriculum at all levels. ICT will also be used to increase research and digital innovation, especially for the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, as well as boost investment in research, development, and application of innovative digital technology, he added.
Related news: Jokowi encourages Papuan MSMEs to join digital economy platform
Furthermore, Hartarto explained that the government is also trying to expand connectivity by building digital infrastructures, starting from the Palapa Ring Fiber Optic Network, Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Towers, Satria multifunction satellite on relatively small islands, and the expansion of 4G and 5G coverage, to the construction of National Data Centers at a number of strategic locations.
The acceleration of digitization is also one of the main agendas of the Indonesian G20 Presidency to encourage concrete deliverables for realizing a more inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
Digital literacy will also become a part of ASEAN's target in the form of the Digital Economy Framework, which is expected to be encouraged through Indonesia's leadership of ASEAN in 2023, Hartarto said.
Related news: G20 DEMM yields consensus on three DEWG issues
Related news: Minister holds bilateral meeting to discuss 3 issues, collaboration
Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
