The Foreign Ministry hosted the first-ever startup forum on Monday. It seeks to build Indonesia’s digital economy by helping startups engage with international communities. It wants to give them access to international markets and funding.

A number of government agencies have made efforts to nurture the country’s digital economy. The best-known initiative is the Communication and Information Ministry’s 1,000 Digital Startups Movement. Similar programs are being conducted by the Industry Ministry and the Research and Technology Ministry.

Mahendra said on Monday that a well-established, solid and competitive digital ecosystem at home was necessary to push Indonesia’s economy forward. He said such an agenda was in line with the ministry’s plan to improve economic diplomacy.

“A country with a huge market like Indonesia should have better adaptability. We cannot be a protectionist player as it can increase inefficiency,” Mahendra told hundreds of startup players, government officials and venture capitalists at Monday’s Foreign Ministry seminar, called Kemlu for Startup, in Jakarta.

At the same event, Research and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said innovation and well-versed entrepreneurs were the keys to Indonesia’s goal to be a developed country by 2045.

“We cannot do that by conducting business as usual,” Bambang said.

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