The government has welcomed Jack Ma’s readiness to become an adviser to the Indonesian e-commerce steering committee and is looking for other global e-commerce figures to be on the advisory board.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said the government had completed the administrative requirements for officially listing the founder and executive chairman of the world's biggest e-commerce platform, Alibaba, in the government project.

"If we refer to Alibaba’s Twitter account, Jack Ma has accepted the offer. I have communicated with Alibaba executives to formalize this […] Currently, I am looking for other figures so the world can see that Indonesia is serious," he said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday.

He explained that international support and exposure were needed in a bid to accelerate e-commerce development in the country, as it would encourage the global e-commerce world to open access to Indonesian players, especially to small and medium enterprises.

"And to increase foreign investment in e-commerce. Thus, we need advisors on the steering committee," Rudiantara went on to say.

He further said the steering committee on e-commerce development would be officially launched after a presidential regulation on the e-commerce road map was issued. Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution will lead the committee. (ags)