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Internet to contribute $26b to RI's GDP in 2016: Businesspeople
The Association of Indonesian Internet Providers (APJI) said that the contribution of Internet services to the countryâs gross domestic product (GDP) in the next two years could reach US$26 billion or equal to 2
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he Association of Indonesian Internet Providers (APJI) said that the contribution of Internet services to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in the next two years could reach US$26 billion or equal to 2.8 percent of the GDP.
'The number of Internet users in the country accounts for 28 percent of Indonesia's total population at the moment, accounting for around 1.3 percent of the GDP. We believe that the [$26 billion] figure can be achieved, as we predict the number of [Internet] users will reach 120 million in 2016,' APJi chairman Semuel Pangerapan said in Jakarta on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said that the association was hoping that the new Cabinet would be able to further develop the Internet industry and business since this sector played a crucial role in improving the country's economy.
He also said president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo should appoint someone who had strong knowledge of the Internet business and understood how to better utilize Internet for economic development as the communications and information minister.
'If possible, the person should be a professional, not a politician, because we have a lot of daunting tasks in this sector,' he added.
In addition, APJI hoped that 80 percent of the country's population could have Internet access on a daily basis by 2019 through programs and efforts of the new government.
"We also want Internet service prices in the eastern part of Indonesia to be as cheap as prices in Java. In Java, by spending Rp 300,000 [$24.7], people can access the Internet at a speed of 2 Megabyte while in eastern Indonesia, you need to spend Rp 6 million for the same speed. This is one of the problems that the new government should fix,' he continued. (nfo)(++++)
