ASIATODAY.ID, BALI – Indonesia initiated and held the “Indonesia-EAEU Digital Technology Dialogue” on September 24 2024 in Bali. This event was to welcome the finalization of the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I-EAEU FTA) negotiations.
The event brought together 7 digital businesses from the EAEU and 15 Indonesian digital businesses, with the aim of pioneering the expansion of digital economic cooperation between Indonesia and the EAEU within the FTA framework.
EAEU participants include three companies from Russia such as the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), Softline Group, and Twenty Four TTL, as well as Investbanq from Kazakhstan and Fitjab from Kyrgyzstan. From Indonesia there were a number of digital companies including Andalin, Zi.Care, Agronum Tech, Tera Logistics Indonesia, and 9 startups from Bali.
Ambassador Umar Hadi, Director General for America and Europe at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that developing the digital economy is an unavoidable need.
“Indonesia and the EAEU have enormous potential to collaborate in this field. With the right capacity, network and technology development, Indonesia will also be relevant to the EAEU’s need for market diversification. “The I-EAEU FTA will boost trade cooperation between Indonesia and the EAEU and support the development of digital economic cooperation between the two parties,” he said, quoted from a Ministry of Foreign Affairs broadcast.
In the panel session, three speakers, namely the Chief Negotiator of the I-EAEU FTA from the Eurasian Economic Council (EEC), the Director of the Digital Economy of the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information, and the Director of Digital Economic Governance of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy exchanged views and discussed with the participants regarding readiness of Indonesia and the EAEU to increase digital economic cooperation.
Boni Pudjianto, Director of the Digital Economy at the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information, expressed Indonesia’s goal of increasing the contribution of the digital economy to 19% of gross domestic product by 2045, or more than four times the current figure (4%).
“To achieve this ambitious target, good collaboration between domestic and foreign stakeholders is needed, including in terms of funding and technology,” he said.
The Chief Negotiator for Indonesia-EAEU FTA EEC, Kira Danilcheva, also conveyed the same thing, emphasizing that both parties have the same view that digital technology is a driver of economic growth and contributes to trade efficiency and opens up new markets.
“We encourage EAEU and Indonesian stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities and cooperation mechanisms offered by the I-EAEU FTA, both in the form of joint projects, forums, technology transfer and information support,” he said.
An important activity in this event is the business pitching session, where each company explains its business activities and expansion plans. This session provides an opportunity for the companies attending to get to know each other, build networks, and identify collaboration opportunities with potential partners for further collaboration.
“This dialogue is a useful platform for Indonesian digital businesses and the EAEU to build collaboration and work together. “We appreciate the initiative of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in holding this Dialogue,” said Vadim Iunusov, representative of the Russian Union for Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
The digital economy is a potential field and is of equal interest to both parties – the EAEU with the EAEU Digital Agenda 2025 and Indonesia with the Digital Indonesia Vision 2045.
The Indonesia-EAEU FTA and these shared interests are the foundation for the two of them to build a digital economic partnership, both in terms of funding, technology, marketing, and so on.
EAEU is a customs union located in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and consists of five countries, namely Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The EAEU is managed by the Eurasian Economic Council (EEC) which is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.
The holding of this Dialogue also underlines Indonesia’s leadership in preparing to implement the I-EAEU FTA which is currently being finalized. Indonesia-EAEU FTA negotiations were launched on December 5 2022 and are targeted to be completed this year. This agreement will be a catalyst for expanding market access for Indonesian products to the EAEU region and vice versa, including increasing cooperation in the digital economy as stated in the Chapter on Economic Cooperation.
The Directorate General of America and Europe of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the organizer of the Chapter on Economic Cooperation I-EAEU FTA is committed to activating cooperation in the areas of cooperation stated in the Chapter. (AT Network)
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