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Digital Technology can Reduce Income Gap: Minister

ShareAround 8,000 officials and experts from governments, academia and the business sector have joined the event. Countries such as Japan, China and South...

Written by Jurnalis Industri · 1 min read >

Around 8,000 officials and experts from governments, academia and the business sector have joined the event. Countries such as Japan, China and South Africa are show casing their latest technological developments.

Communications and Information Ministry Rudiantara (third right) poses in front of Indonesia’s pavilion with You Young Min, Korea’s Minister of Science and ICT (third left) and other high ranking officials during the ITU Telecom World 2017 in Busan, South Korea, on Sept. 25. ITU Telecom World 2017 will be held until Sept. 28. (JP/ Winny Tang)

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara emphasized on Monday that the
adoption of innovative digital technology had great potential to solve the growing wealth
disparity within the society.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) Telecom World 2017 event in Busan, South Korea, Rudiantara offered two strategic
measures to address income disparities through digitalization.

“The first measure is by empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for
rapid adoption and practical application of innovative and disruptive digital economy
business models,” the minister said.

Some digital business models in Indonesia have proven to bring positive impacts in
providing job opportunities, and thus have contributed to reducing income
disparities, such as online marketplace Tokopedia and homegrown ride-hailing app Go-Jek,
Rudiantara argued.

The second measure is by supporting MSMEs in underserved regions to develop their
potential by enabling them to enjoy access to digital connectivity, he added.

In Indonesia, the government has been able to gradually improve broadband connectivity
across the archipelago by utilizing Universal Service Obligation (USO) funds, which come
from telecommunication companies.

ITU Telecom World 2017 is an event that brings together information and communication
technology ministers, business leaders and small and medium enterprises in the ICT sector
to discuss ideas and collaborate. The event will run from Sept. 25-28.

Around 8,000 officials and experts from governments, academia and the business sector
have joined the event. Countries such as Japan, China and South Africa are showcasing their latest technological developments. (bbn, Winny Tang, The Jakarta Post)

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