Jokowi Reveals Key Discussion Points from Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026
Former President Joko Widodo has revealed key discussion points from the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 held in New Delhi, India, on Friday, 20 February 2026, which he attended and where he met with various world leaders.
Jokowi identified two primary issues discussed at the forum: data sovereignty and artificial intelligence sovereignty. He noted that nearly all participating nations emphasised the importance of data sovereignty and AI sovereignty amid the acceleration of global digital transformation.
“Data sovereignty is an absolute and critically important matter, particularly for developing nations,” Jokowi said when speaking to journalists at his residence in Solo, Central Java, on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Jokowi stated that the control and protection of national data must be a priority to prevent countries from becoming entirely dependent on external parties in managing strategic information. However, he assessed that AI sovereignty represents a far more complex challenge. Even large nations, he argued, will face considerable difficulty in achieving true independence in this sector.
He cited the United States as an example, noting that even America remains dependent on semiconductor imports and international talent to develop its artificial intelligence ecosystem. “Even large nations find it difficult, I believe. Semiconductors still come from other countries. International talent also comes largely from abroad,” he said.
Consequently, Jokowi emphasised that the primary focus for developing nations currently must be building a robust digital infrastructure foundation. This infrastructure encompasses satellites, data centres, fibre optic networks, and Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers. All these elements were deemed crucial for supporting the leap towards an AI-based economy.
He predicted that within five to fifteen years, a major revolution in artificial intelligence will occur. Almost all human activities, he argued, will become integrated with AI technology. Therefore, alongside infrastructure, the preparedness of human resources and regulation must also receive serious attention.
“All nations must prepare. Digital infrastructure must be established, human resources must be developed, and regulations must be created. There will be a major shift from a normal economy to a digital economy, and then into an AI economy or intelligent economy,” he stated.
The Bloomberg New Economy Forum is a global dialogue platform that brings together government leaders, business figures, and technology experts to discuss global economic challenges and digital transformation. This year, a primary focus of discussions has been AI sovereignty amid intensifying technological competition and global geopolitical competition.