Digital talent key to Indonesia's position in global tech race

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has emphasised that strengthening digital talent is the primary factor in determining Indonesia’s position amidst increasingly fierce global technological competition. The government considers the quality of human resources to be decisive in facing changes to the structure of the digital industry, including the development of artificial intelligence and the transformation of the technology ecosystem. “Digital talent is the determining factor. With strong human capabilities, we can overcome infrastructure limitations and improve competitiveness,” said Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria in a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Sunday. This situation demands that Indonesia strengthen its human resource capacity so that it does not merely become a technology user, but also part of the global technology development value chain. Nezar explained that current digital technology developments are marked by very rapid global competition, including in the layers of computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence. According to him, strengthening digital talent is the key to increasing national capacity in facing these changes. “Indonesia must move away from the position of being just a technology user. We need to enter the creation process, not just usage,” Nezar said. Universities are considered a strategic entry point for building an innovation ecosystem connected to industrial needs and government policy. Kemkomdigi is currently running a digital talent strengthening programme through collaboration with various higher education institutions in Indonesia, including the AI Talent Factory implemented at several campuses both on and off Java. This programme is directed at expanding access to digital competency development more equitably. He also stressed that strengthening digital talent does not only target technical aspects, but also an understanding of global dynamics, including the geopolitics of technology and the rapidly changing structure of the digital economy. Through this approach, Kemkomdigi positions digital talent development as an important part of the national strategy to strengthen Indonesia’s competitiveness in the continuously evolving global technology ecosystem.