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Jokowi urges development of e-commerce
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gives the opening speech at the 2016 E-Commerce Summit and Expo at the Indonesia Convention and Exhibition in BSD City, South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on all stakeholders to bolster e-commerce, noting that Indonesia, with its abundant potential, needs to catch up with other countries.
Jokowi recalled his visit to Silicon Valley during his US trip in February, when he visited several technology giants such as Facebook, Google and Twitter.
There, he said, he had realized that Indonesia's online-based business was lagging behind.
"There's no time to lose. We must move forward, else we shall be left behind," the President said in a speech opening the E-Commerce Summit and Expo at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD City, South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday.
The national's digital economy system must also be developed to help farmers, fishermen and small and medium enterprises to sell their products, he said.
Jokowi also called on Indonesian businesses to begin cooperating with start-up business from other countries to improve the domestic e-commerce industry. He noted that a number of big names in foreign e-commerce had entered Indonesia, such as Chinese online retail behemoth Alibaba.
Alibaba has strengthened its grip on the Southeast Asian market by acquiring a controlling stake in Singapore-based e-commerce portal Lazada for US$1 billion.
“Alibaba has entered the Indonesian market. Foreign businesses see great potential in the digital economy in this country,” he said.
Indonesia's e-commerce market was estimated at Rp 18 trillion (US$ 1.3billion ) in 2015, with 37 million consumers from a total population of 255 million, according to World Economic Outlook data compiled by the Internet Service Providers Association. The association also predicted that the e-commerce market would reach Rp 25 trillion by 2016, with 49 million consumers. (sha/rin)
