Telecoms summit ends with declaration<\/p>\n
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): A three-day international conference
\non telecommunications ended here yesterday with a pledge to
\nremove inequalities in telecommunication and information access
\nand to support the creation of a global information
\ninfrastructure in the 21st century.<\/p>\n
The meeting, held at the Bandung Institute of Technology, also
\nended with the signing of joint venture agreements by members of
\nfour consortia which won contracts to build telecommunication
\nfacilities in Kalimantan, Central Java, Sumatra and West Java.<\/p>\n
The summit, which focused on human resource development in the
\nfield of telecommunications, was attended by more than 400
\nexecutives from various international telecommunication
\ncompanies, government officials and communication experts.<\/p>\n
The meeting was closed yesterday by Minister of Tourism, Post
\nand Telecommunications Joop Ave.<\/p>\n
The "Bandung Declaration", read by Secretary-General of the
\nMinistry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Jonathan L.
\nParapak, urged continued attention to the development of human
\nresources in the telecommunications sector to support the
\ncreation of national information systems and networks and a
\nglobal information infrastructure in the 21st century.<\/p>\n
The declaration also addressed the issues of human resource
\ndevelopment and improving economic growth, employment and quality
\nof life in a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated manner.
\nThe delegates pledged to involve all concerned parties, with the
\nobjective of creating a fair, equitable and humanistic future
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
The declaration called on all parties, including governments,
\nthe private sector and international organizations, to contribute
\nall efforts to develop human resources in telecommunications and
\ninformation. It encouraged the use of appropriate mechanisms --
\nsuch as the "tripartite approach" where participating parties
\nsupport the efforts of developing countries for the transfer of
\ntechnology -- to reach the objective of sharing knowledge,
\nexperience and expertise while enhancing creativity in the
\ntelecommunication and information field. It also urged that
\ninequalities inherent in information and communication systems be
\nremoved.<\/p>\n
Unity<\/p>\n
Joop, in his closing address yesterday, acknowledged the
\nimportant role of telecommunications in uniting Indonesia and in
\nlinking it to the world.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world with
\na population of 195 million, currently has one of the lowest
\ntelephone densities with only two telephone lines for every 100
\npeople.<\/p>\n
"We want you to help us in a spirit of partnership, because
\nwe are a nation in a hurry to achieve development," he said to
\nthe participants of the conference.<\/p>\n
Indonesian companies, he said, have also been striving to
\nprogress in the field of information and telecommunications.<\/p>\n
He cited that several domestic companies have won contracts
\nto build telecommunication facilities in Cambodia and Myanmar,
\nwhile requests have also been coming from India and the Slovak
\nRepublic.<\/p>\n
In spite of the achievements, Minister of Education and
\nCulture Wardiman Djojonegoro, who addressed the conference
\nyesterday, pointed out that Indonesia has a lot of catching up to
\ndo.<\/p>\n
In the development of software, he said, Indonesia has fallen
\nbehind the other six emerging industrial countries in Asia
\n(Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and
\nThailand).<\/p>\n
In 1993, Indonesia's software market, gained only US$46
\nmillion and ranked second from last compared to the other
\ncountries whose markets ranged between US$35 million and US$280
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's software market increased to US$61 million last
\nyear and is expected to reach US$76 million this year.<\/p>\n
South Korea's market, in contrast, is estimated to reach
\nUS$400 million this year.<\/p>\n
Wardiman said that Indonesia also faces a serious lack of
\nhuman resources in the information and telecommunications
\nsectors.<\/p>\n
He illustrated that to achieve information technology
\ndevelopments, one professional or skilled worker is required for
\nevery 4,000 people.<\/p>\n
"This means that by the year 2020, some 60,000 people are
\nneeded. Currently, we have less than 2,000," he said.<\/p>\n
In order to reach the targeted 60,000 by 2020, he said,
\nIndonesia must produce 2,300 professionals and skilled workers
\neach year.<\/p>\n
"Presently, however, we produce less than 600 a year from
\ndomestic education institutions and about 50 from overseas
\ninstitutions," he said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/telecoms-summit-ends-with-declaration-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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