Signing WAICO Document, Airlangga Affirms Indonesia's Involvement in Global AI Development and Governance

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto signed the founding document of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai, China, on Thursday, 16 July 2026. Acting on the directive of President Prabowo, Airlangga stressed that this step represents Indonesia’s support for strengthening international cooperation in the development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI). “This signing was carried out under the directive of President Prabowo to promote economic development that accelerates the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and impacts the welfare of communities worldwide,” Airlangga said in a statement on Friday, 17 July 2026. He added that the government took this step recognising the need to be directly involved in international cooperation and global governance of AI, to ensure its development is healthy and directed towards being beneficial, safe, and fair. “In the interest of all humanity, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” he said. Airlangga stated that the document is an agreement to establish WAICO, or the ‘Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO)’. WAICO is established as an independent intergovernmental international organisation and is granted international legal personality. This signing marks an important milestone for developing partnerships between countries to promote AI governance. Airlangga added that this step also marks a new chapter with the establishment of WAICO as an independent intergovernmental international organisation focused on artificial intelligence cooperation in the civilian domain in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner. He said Indonesia’s presence as a founding member of WAICO is a strategic move to promote human-centric global AI governance. According to him, this approach is important so that the benefits of AI can be felt equally by all countries, especially developing nations, in supporting development and economic growth. “The signing of the WAICO establishment agreement today is an important milestone for all of us. Through this platform, Indonesia is committed to playing an active role in bridging the global technological capability gap (bridging the AI divide),” Airlangga said.