President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is set to increase economic cooperation between Indonesia and the US during his state visit from Saturday to Thursday.
'The President's state visit to the US will focus on increasing economic cooperation between the two countries as well as discussing environment and security issues,' presidential communication team member Ari Dwipayana recently told setkab.go.id.
Meetings with heads of information technology companies in Silicon Valley, including Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft, are among Jokowi's main agendas in the US, according to Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara, who also joined the President's entourage.
'One of the state visit's agendas is to exchange ideas and learn about startup and e-commerce developments such as funding, logistics and consumer protection,' said Rudiantara.
He added that Indonesia would become the biggest digital economic area in Southeast Asia with e-commerce as one of the main drivers.
'Who knows, we might have a Jakarta-Silicon Valley Axis,' said Rudiantara who invited local technopreneurs such as Go-Jek CEO Nadiem Makarim, Kibar Kreasi Indonesia CEO Yansen Kamto and Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwijaya to come along.
According to Rudiantara, the government was targeting US$130 billion in revenue from e-commerce in 2020.
He added that only established companies should receive foreign funds, not startups or small and medium sized companies (UKM).
'We have to develop [local] startups first, then seek foreign funds after they are established,' said Rudiantara.
Jokowi is scheduled to have dinner with Apple CEO Tim Cook to discuss the company's plans to purchase tin from Indonesia. He will also have meetings with Google to talk about Internet access distribution in remote areas such as Papua, and Facebook and Microsoft to establish advanced technology education in local universities. (kes)(+)
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