Indonesia-Africa Forum 2024: Digital Collaboration Opportunities Explored by Indonesia and Egypt
Bali – Indonesia has once again successfully hosted an international standard event. This time as the host of the 2nd High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF).
The Indonesian government is exploring opportunities for collaboration and development cooperation in the digital sector with Egypt.
This was revealed by the Minister of Communication and Informatics (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi when he met the Egyptian Minister of Information Technology and Communication Amr Talaat at the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) Joint Leaders Session 2024, at Pecatu Hall, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali.
“Today’s bilateral meeting aims to explore the potential for cooperation in developing digital infrastructure and increasing the capacity of the younger generation in both countries,” explained the Minister of Communication and Information.
The Minister of Communication and Information explained Indonesia’s various efforts and achievements in developing digital infrastructure with coverage of almost 98 percent of the national population at the meeting, where currently 177,000 kilometers of Fiber Optic Cable, 34 Data Centers, and 265,900 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) including 1,000 5G BTS have been built.
According to the Minister of Communication and Information, there are similarities in policies and management of information and communication technology issues in Egypt involving various ministries and institutions.
“Egypt’s ICT policy focuses on three main pillars, namely digital transformation, digital skills and jobs, and digital innovation,” he said.
In the meeting, Minister Budi Arie offered opportunities for cooperation in developing 5G network connectivity and investment in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN).
Meanwhile, Amr Talaat conveyed the appreciation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi for the warm welcome of the Indonesian Government.
According to him, strategic and historical relations have existed between Egypt and Indonesia.
“Egypt was the first country to recognize Indonesia’s independence in 1945, and this relationship has developed significantly,” he said.
Minister Talaat expressed Egypt’s commitment to expanding cooperation, especially in the development of submarine cables and training of digital human resource capacities.
He said that Egypt offers opportunities to improve digital connectivity through submarine cables.
“We invite the young generation of Indonesia to feel the benefits of the training program that we are implementing,” he said.
In the bilateral meeting, Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi was accompanied by Director General of Information and Public Communication Prabunindya Revta Revolusi, Secretary of the Directorate General of IKP Mediodecci Lustarini, Director of Public Communication Partnership Governance of the Directorate General of IKP Hasyim Gautama and Director of Information and Communication of Politics, Law and Human Rights of the Directorate General of IKP Marroli J. Indarto. Meanwhile, Egyptian Minister of ICT Amr Talaat was accompanied by Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia Yasser Elshemy, Assistant Minister for Strategy and Implementation of ICT Shereen Ahmed Awad Elguindy, and Director of International Relations Samah (Atia) Aziz
