Indonesia Sets Sights on Being AIM ASEAN's Largest Participant, Gibran Supports AI Training for MSMEs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has expressed his full support for AI training programs for MSME actors, in line with Indonesia’s designation as the country with the largest target number of participants in the AIM ASEAN program.
The Vice Presidential Secretariat (Setwapres) in Jakarta, informed that this support was conveyed by Vice President Gibran when receiving a delegation from the ASEAN Foundation at the Vice Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
“Indonesia is one of the main focuses of the program, given the significant contribution of MSMEs to the national economy,” said a statement from Setwapres.
Indonesia has been designated as the country with the largest target number of participants in the AIM ASEAN program because it has the potential for 44,000 MSMEs out of a total of 100,000 MSMEs in the eleven ASEAN countries.
Legal Coordinator and Project Manager of AIM ASEAN, Eci Ernawati, explained that in Indonesia, this program is being implemented in collaboration with local partners, including KUMPUL Impact and Kaizen Room.
“The Vice President stated that for AI training activities, especially for MSMEs, throughout Indonesia, he will provide support, both in terms of access for MSMEs, and also in terms of venues, and we will also provide support in terms of knowledge,” she said.
According to her, this support is a strong signal of the government’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of small business actors so that they can adapt to the development of digital technology.
AI training, said Eci, not only helps MSMEs in improving business efficiency, but also opens up opportunities for product innovation, data-driven marketing, and expanding market access.
In addition to AIM ASEAN, the meeting also presented the AI Ready ASEAN Program, which targets 5.5 million individuals throughout ASEAN countries, including teachers, youth, and parents. This program is designed with an inclusive approach, with special attention to vulnerable groups.
Project Manager of AI Ready ASEAN, Diera Gala Paksi, said that the program received a positive response from the Vice President because it is in line with the national human resource development agenda.
“The Vice President is quite enthusiastic about this program, especially since it is also in line with the government’s Asta Cita, especially the empowerment of human resources, and also provides good support for the implementation of this program,” she said.
She said that the implementation of the program will target infrastructure aspects, especially in terms of inclusivity, where students, communities in remote areas, and other marginalized groups will also be involved.
Specifically for MSMEs, Diera emphasized the importance of program sustainability through policy support and strong collaboration between the government and implementing partners.
“We are very grateful for the support from the Vice President and we are also quite helped. Of course, this is also in line with the AI Ready ASEAN program, where we are not only focused on the grassroots level, but how to make this program more sustainable with support from the government, of course, in terms of policy and other support,” she said.
Through the strengthening of AI literacy and training that targets the general public and business actors, it is hoped that Indonesia will not only be a technology market, but also be able to build digital sovereignty based on superior human resource capacity.
“We hope that with the AI training, both for the general public and MSMEs, this can help Indonesia become digitally sovereign, and we also train more grassroots people, both the community and MSMEs,” she said.
Also present at the meeting were the team from KUMPUL Impact, namely Meisha Marsella Efendi as Partnership Lead and Senior Program Strategist and Marcellinus Oliver as Project Management Officer.