"Investment in the telecommunication sector could increase economic growth in a country by three to five percent," Minister of Information and Communication Tifatul Sembiring said at the presentation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Pura awards here on Monday.
He said according to the results of a World Bank research the ITC had helped develop creative industry and contributed to economic improvement.
"Moreover now more and more local content providers have been growing in line with the development of telecommunication and information industry in the country," he said.
He said users of social media such as Facebook and Twitter had also contributed to the growth of information and telecommunication industry.
"In view of the development Indonesia has now been declared as the world`s second biggest in accessing Facebook," he said.
The performance of telecommunication industry has now been able to give pride especially to ICT community members in the country due to their access that has been supported by industry persons.
"That proves that the achievement of telecommunication industry in Indonesia has been a pride," the minister said.
Regarding the award he said Surabaya had received an i-Utama award along with Banda Aceh, Cimahi, Denpasar, Malang, Medan and Yogyakarta.
"We gave the award to appreciate their development of ICT in a number of districts and cities," he said.
He said the ICT Pura program is a national movement to map and count indexes and give appreciation to heads of districts and city mayors in realizing the vision and mission in the ICT.
"According to mapping next year Indonesia will be launched as Indonesia Connected," he said.
And in 2014 the country is expected to become Indonesia Informative and in 2016 Indonesia Broadband and in 2018 Indonesia Digital, he said.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
