Government to set up special agency for IT<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal
\nRamli said on Wednesday a special government agency would be set
\nup next year to speed up the development of information
\ntechnology (IT) in the country.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the agency was urgently needed because Indonesia
\nlagged far behind other countries, including China and India, in
\nthe IT sector.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to establish a special committee for IT
\ndevelopment,\" he said following a meeting with senior officials
\nfrom the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want Indonesia to remain far behind, so the
\ngovernment must take the initiative to speed up IT development.\"<\/p>\n
He added that a presidential decree on the establishment and
\nmandate of the agency would be issued.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the government also was considering a fiscal
\nincentive policy to help boost the development of the IT sector.<\/p>\n
He explained that developing the IT sector was important for
\nthe economy because IT offered lucrative business opportunities,
\npointing out that IT-related business transactions next year were
\nprojected to reach US$253 billion worldwide.<\/p>\n
A number of government officials earlier said Indonesia was
\naiming to capture at least 8 percent of the world's IT market.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the export performance of the country's electronic
\nsector was not too bad, reaching approximately $7 billion.<\/p>\n
According to him, if the domestic IT sector is properly
\ndeveloped, it has the potential to overtake the textile sector as
\nthe country's largest non-oil and gas export commodity.<\/p>\n
\"We still have enough time to catch up with other nations in
\nthe IT fields,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rizal added that the government was eager to take advantage of
\nthe $15 billion loan promised by the Japanese government for the
\ndevelopment of IT industries in Asia.<\/p>\n
He added that President Abdurrahman Wahid, who recently
\nattended a Southeast Asian gathering on IT development, supported
\nthe establishment of the special government agency.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Communications, there currently
\nare some 1,200 websites in the country with a total of about
\n150,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
The ministry has forecast the number of visitors will jump to
\nabout 250,000 in 2005.<\/p>\n
The government currently is preparing a blueprint for the
\ninformation technology sector, which will be discussed with the
\nHouse of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Experts have criticized the government for its lack of a clear
\npolicy and vision in developing the IT sector.<\/p>\n
Some have suggested a new ministry be established with a
\nmandate to develop the IT industry. In the current Cabinet the IT
\nindustry falls under the portfolios of two different ministries,
\nthe Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry.<\/p>\n
Other experts also warned the government of the urgency of a
\ncyber law in Indonesia to anticipate future disputes in the
\nindustry. (rei)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-set-up-special-agency-for-it-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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