Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, has said that his ministry is focusing on several tasks this year, including improving the quality of connectivity and digital talent development.
He observed here on Wednesday that 2025 will be a year full of challenges, with a high level of volatility and uncertainties. Thus, the ministry’s work programs must be adjusted to long-term needs.
He said that one of the main focuses this year is improving the quality of connectivity, or providing meaningful connectivity.
With Internet penetration reaching 80 percent of the total population, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is seeking to ensure that the benefits of this connectivity reach people across Indonesia.
He affirmed that the ministry will continue to bolster existing infrastructure, adding that the ministry’s Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure will focus on realizing digital infrastructure equity.
According to him, digital infrastructure is still concentrated in large islands with dense populations, such as Java and parts of Sumatra.
“Kalimantan and Eastern Indonesia must receive attention. This is what we will do in the next five years and starting from 2025,” he informed.
In addition to connectivity, he said that developing digital talents is also a priority. Indonesia needs around 9 million digital talents by 2030 to achieve the digital economy target of US$366 billion for the same year.
Patria acknowledged that achieving the target will not be easy and require collaboration from all parties, including the government, industry players, and universities.
To meet the need for digital talents, providing digital literacy will not be sufficient. Rather, gaining mastery of knowledge and skills in new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, cloud computing, and blockchain, will also be important.
For this reason, he said, his ministry has prepared several programs, such as the Digital Talent Scholarship and Digital Literacy Academy.
