Indonesia's Large Digital Economy Is Futile If Benefits Are Not Equitably Shared, Meutya Reveals

Indonesia’s digital economy is quite substantial within the Southeast Asian region. The country is projected to hold US$99 billion in 2025, according to last year’s e-Conomy SEA report.

"This means one-third of the total assets. This means that Indonesia shapes ASEAN. And if the world says that ASEAN will also shape the world, then Indonesia’s role is to shape the global digital economy in a real and tangible way," explained Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid at the Digital Ecosystem Alignment (DEAL) 2026 event in Jakarta on Tuesday.

However, this figure also serves as a reminder that it does not represent national strength if it cannot yet reflect economic growth, productivity, and benefits felt by the public. Meutya explained that the distribution of benefits should be more equitable, not only enjoyed by large platforms based overseas.

If that occurs, Indonesia could potentially lose a significant portion of its digital economy, and it would not yet constitute Indonesia’s national strength. "So the digital economy figure is high, but if it is recorded at the headquarters of platforms far from Indonesia, it is the same as losing a large amount, not gaining strength," she said.

At the same event, Director General of Digital Ecosystem at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, addressed technological inclusivity. He stated that the use of digital technology should no longer be centred on specific segments of society, such as those in urban areas or with higher education alone.

Digital technology should be usable by all parties, ensuring no one is left behind and everyone can progress. "Those in villages, those whose formal education may not be high, should also be given the opportunity. So they are not left behind. So they still have hope to advance," said Edwin.