IT development outside Java

JAKARTA (JP): The Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan said on Friday that his office will form an agency to prepare the development of information technology (IT) in areas outside of Java and Bali.

"IT will be developed in the regions so that its benefit can be felt in local people," he told reporters after opening a workshop on industrial policy here.

Luhut said the agency would prepare policies which would be used as the basis for IT development in the country.

IT is one of the industrial sectors with the greatest potential, he said, adding that he expects Indonesia to control at least 8 percent of the world's $225 billion IT market within the next eight years.

Luhut admitted that Indonesia's industry had been lagging behind so far due to previous government policies which had not helped strengthen small and medium enterprises, Antara reported.

He said that his ministry will send a blueprint of the government's policies on the industrial sector to the House of Representative's Commission V for industry and trade affairs, for comments and feedback. (10)