By: Safira Juliana)*
The Group of Twenty (G20) Summit which will be held in Bali in November will be a momentum to accelerate digital transformation in Indonesia. The G20 Summit will act as a driver of a more advanced digital economy for future generations of Indonesians.
The G20 is an international economic cooperation forum consisting of countries with the world’s largest economies. G20 member countries consist of 19 countries and 1 European Union institution. The G20 represents more than 60% of the world’s population, 75% of global trade and 80% of the World’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The G20 began in 1999 with the meeting of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank. However, since 2008, the G20 has presented Heads of State at the Summit and in 2010 a discussion of the development sector was also formed. The G20 Forum aims to realize strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive global growth.
Unlike other multilateral forums, the G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. The function of the presidency is held by one member state, which changes annually. For 2022, Indonesia will hold the G20 presidency for a full year. Indonesia’s presidency at the G20 starts from December 1, 2021 until the G20 Summit in November 2022. The handover of the presidency from Italy to Indonesia has been carried out directly on October 31, 2021 at the G20 Summit Rome 2021.
As the G20 Presidency, Indonesia carries the theme Recover Together, Recover Stronger. With this theme, Indonesia wants to invite the whole world to work hand in hand, support each other to recover together and grow stronger and more sustainable. The priority issues raised by Indonesia as the presidency are the issue of the availability of a global health architecture, readiness to implement digital transformation, as well as discussions on the transition to sustainable energy.
Digital transformation is one of the priority issues raised by Indonesia as the G20 Presidency. This is because digital transformation must be carried out to achieve the true potential of digitalizing the global economy which is useful for achieving the common welfare of each member country.
Digital transformation is the key to restoring the global economic order due to the Covid-19 Pandemic to become stronger, inclusive and collaborative. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Wamenlu) Mahendra Siregar said that digital transformation would present opportunities that were not previously available. Such as making it easier for young people to build small-capital businesses. In addition, digital transformation also encourages the emergence of innovation for the younger generation to create jobs that will be very useful for improving the economy.
The priority issues of the Indonesian G20 Presidency to enhance digital transformation are reflected in the invitation to Cisco and Meta to participate in the G20 Summit in Bali in November. This was conveyed directly by the Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G Plate, who specifically visited the headquarters of two giant US companies in San Jose and California.
During his visit, the Minister of Communication and Information was welcomed by the VP of Connectivity Policy Meta, Monica Desai. Desai said that Meta was very interested in collaborating with the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkominfo) in bringing the Meta concept into every aspect of people’s lives. Meta’s support at the G20 Indonesia Summit is in line with their commitment to drive a more advanced digital economy for future generations. On the same occasion, the Minister of Communication and Information said that Meta’s form of involvement at the G20 Summit was to prepare a technology exhibition, called the Digital Transformation Expo.
The Minister of Communication and Information hopes that this technology exhibition from Meta will attract the attention of heads of state and world company bosses who are present at the G20 Summit. The collaboration between Meta and Indonesia will continue to grow to drive transformation and the digital economy.
Besides Meta, the Minister of Communication and Informatics also invited Cisco to participate in the G20 Summit. Cassie Roach as VP of WW Sales & Country Sponsor of Cisco positively welcomed the invitation for cooperation from the Government of Indonesia. He hopes that the digital transformation agenda in Indonesia can run successfully to achieve economic progress and the development of digital talent.
Apart from visiting Meta and Cisco, this time the Minister of Communication and Information used a working visit to the United States to visit a number of companies producing satellites and digital technology in the United States to promote the Indonesian Presidency at the G20 Forum. He also gave souvenirs in the form of mountains of the Indonesian G20 Presidency logo to American companies he visited.
Hopefully digital transformation in Indonesia can be realized soon. Because digital transformation can be a solution for every G20 member country to recover its economy due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Digital transformation will help accelerate MSMEs into the digital ecosystem, digital entrepreneurship. Hopefully the Indonesian Presidency at the G20 Summit can be a pioneer in creating digital transformation in various fields for G20 member countries in particular and the world community in general.
)* Author is Contributor for Pertiwi Institute