BKPM: Strengthening Digital Talent Key to Data Centre Industry Development
The rapid development of the data centre industry in Indonesia needs to be balanced with the availability of human resources who possess competencies suited to the digital industry’s needs. Strengthening digital talent is a key factor in supporting technological advancement, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing services.
“The need for skilled labour will continue to increase along with the growth in investment and digital infrastructure development in Indonesia,” said Saribua Siahaan, Director of Investment Promotion for Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, during the expansion of a data centre campus called the STT Jakarta Campus on Wednesday.
According to him, Indonesian workers have a significant opportunity to engage in the technology sector if supported by education and training relevant to industry needs. Competencies referring to international standards are also considered important so that graduates can compete at a global level. “Workers who have international qualifications and standards will be crucial capital in supporting the development of the national digital industry,” he said.
Saribua assessed that the education sector needs to continuously adapt its curriculum to the rapid pace of technological development. Collaboration between educational institutions, the government, and industry players is needed to ensure the learning process focuses not only on theory but also equips students with the practical skills required in the workplace. “Besides operational skills, the industry also needs human resources capable of analysing and solving various technical problems in digital infrastructure management. Therefore, vocational education and industry-based training programmes have a strategic role in preparing workers ready to face the challenges of the technology sector,” he added.
The increase in demand for digital talent occurs alongside the growth of internet users, e-commerce development, cloud service adoption, and the increasingly widespread use of AI across various sectors. This situation has prompted the emergence of new professions in data centres, networking, cyber security, and digital system management. “We hope that strengthening human resource competencies can proceed in tandem with the growth of technology investment in Indonesia. With the support of a quality workforce, Indonesia has a greater opportunity to strengthen its competitiveness while optimally leveraging digital economic development,” he stated.
Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Kwok Fook Seng, added that long-term investment in Indonesia through this campus expansion reflects the strong, growing partnership between Singapore and Indonesia, particularly in advancing the ASEAN digital economy. “Especially amidst rising demand for AI, cloud, and high-performance computing, data centres are a crucial foundation for a digital economy that enables economic activity without location boundaries,” he explained.
Country Head of STT GDC Indonesia, Hendrikus Hendra Gozali, revealed that Indonesia is entering a new phase of digital growth, marked by increasing demand for technological infrastructure and human resources capable of supporting its operation. “Talent development is an important part of building a sustainable digital ecosystem, in line with the wider adoption of AI, cloud computing services, and digital transformation across various business sectors,” he said.
He explained that one current challenge is the limited number of training programmes that specifically prepare workers for the data centre sector. Yet, the industry requires specific technical skills, ranging from managing electrical and cooling systems to networking and critical digital infrastructure operations. “To address this need, we are cooperating with vocational education institutions, including ATMI Cikarang, in developing a training programme more aligned with industry needs. This cooperation is realised through the establishment of a Data Centre Laboratory Learning Centre in West Java,” Hendrikus disclosed.