Indonesia Becomes a Digital Investment Magnet in Southeast Asia; Government Strengthens Human Resources and AI
The Deputy for Commerce and Digital Economy Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Ali Murtopo Simbolon, has revealed that the substantial flow of technology investment has positioned Indonesia as one of the primary digital investment destinations in Southeast Asia.
Over recent years, Indonesia, which possesses the largest digital economy in ASEAN, has demonstrated significant growth. The value of the national digital economy is projected to reach more than USD130 billion by 2026, with internet penetration of approximately 79.5 per cent of the total population.
This was stated by Deputy Ali during the Soft Launching event of the ASOCIO Digital AI Summit 2026 and ASOCIO Digital Award, sometime ago.
“This development places Indonesia as one of the primary digital investment destinations in Southeast Asia, with increasing investment flows in the technology and digital infrastructure sectors. To ensure digital transformation and the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can deliver optimal impact for the national economy, the Government is also continuously strengthening the development of digital human resources (HR) as the principal foundation of the future economy,” he said, as quoted from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs press release, Monday (16 March).
Strengthening the digital economy and developing cutting-edge technology such as AI has become a key factor in driving productivity improvements, industrial efficiency, and national economic competitiveness at the global level. Within this framework, AI is positioned as part of a “new engine of growth” that will accelerate the transformation of various economic sectors. AI technology will not only drive operational efficiency and innovation in the business world but will also create opportunities for new business models, increased industrial value addition, and development of a more dynamic and sustainable digital economic ecosystem.
Therefore, the Indonesian Government through the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs is collaborating with the Asian Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) to host the ASOCIO Digital AI Summit 2026 on 29-31 July 2026 in Jakarta. This event will serve as a principal forum for government agencies, technology industry players, academics, and innovators to strengthen regional collaboration in the development of artificial intelligence and digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under the theme “Hybrid Intelligence Unbound: Reimagining Innovation, Infrastructure and Regional Sovereignty”, the ASOCIO Digital AI Summit 2026 forum will focus on a number of strategic agendas, including digital transformation and AI adoption for national and regional development, strengthening AI governance standards and technology ethics, developing inclusive and resilient digital infrastructure, increasing the involvement of SMEs in the digital ecosystem, and strengthening technology investment and new market opportunities in the region.
“As host of the ASOCIO Digital AI Summit 2026, Indonesia wishes to establish this forum as a foundation for future AI development. The Government hopes that the utilisation of AI can drive faster economic growth through a new growth engine based on three main pillars, namely the digital economy, the semiconductor industry, and the utilisation of advanced technology to enhance the competitiveness of the national industry,” Deputy Ali concluded.