Jakarta, InfoPublik – Information technology will transform people’s activities from conventional method to online, President Joko Widodo said.

“Offline working, shopping, and learning which need physical presence will become online,” he said in a limited meeting on digital transformation planning at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 3 August.

“These changes need anticipation, preparation, and plan.”

Communications and Informatics Ministry (MCI) has to take several steps to provide quality telecommunications services across the country so every citizen will have access to the internet, he said.

Furthermore, the President gave five instructions to MCI. First, the ministry must carry out digital coverage extension and infrastructure development in all regions. “The ministry has to accelerate internet service provision in 12,500 villages, urban villages, and public spaces,” said President Jokowi.

Second, it is important to seriously prepare digital transformation roadmaps in various strategic sectors, for example public service, social assistance, education, health, trade, industry, and broadcasting.

“Do not let our digital infrastructures have low utility,” he underlined.

Third, National Data Center integration must be accelerated as discussed earlier.

Fourth, the President asked to prepare digital talents. “This is very important in conducting digital transformation. Our country needs about nine million talents in the next 15 years. It is a necessary preparation,” he said.

Fifth, President Joko Widodo instructed to accelerate the preparation of required digital transformation regulations and funding schemes.

In the meeting, he also presented IMD World Digital Competitiveness 2019 rank that placed Indonesia in 56th position from 63 countries.

“We sit at the lower table. Our position is lower than several ASEAN countries, for instance Thailand in 40th, Malaysia in 26th, and Singapore in 2nd,” he concluded. (Writer: Tri Antoro, Editor: Untung S, Translator: Filmon Warouw)