India-Indonesia can collaborate between digital infrastructure systems to push economic growth: Minister

New Delhi: India has one of the world's leading startup ecosystems and Indonesia's startup ecosystem has been rapidly growing, fueled by a large young population and increasing internet penetration. There is immense potential for collaboration between India's public digital infrastructure and Indonesia's digital infrastructure to drive innovation, economic growth, and cultural exchange, Indonesia’s Creative Economy and Tourism Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno has told ET.

By sharing best practices and expertise, India and Indonesia can empower entrepreneurs, startups, and creative professionals to harness the full potential of digital technologies for innovation, growth, and social impact, Sandiaga who is in Delhi to participate in the Raisina Dialogue (India’s premier foreign policy dialogue) told ET in an exclusive interview.

“There is great potential for partnership between Indian and Indonesian startups across-sectors -- technology, e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, agriculture, and renewable energy,” the visiting Minister pointed out. “I recognize the immense potential for collaboration between India's public digital infrastructure and Indonesia's digital infrastructure to drive innovation, economic growth, and cultural exchange.”


Sandiaga noted “By sharing best practices and expertise, we can empower entrepreneurs, startups, and creative professionals to harness the full potential of digital technologies for innovation, growth, and social impact.”

Indonesia has great potential in the creative economy sector. The exports value reached $17.38 billion and 17 sub-sectors of the creative economy, with priority sub-sectors: Applications, Game Development, Film, Animation, and Video, that will be the spearhead of the direction of future creative economy policies. fashion, arts, and crafts have been pillars of the dispersed creative economy, making significant contributions to economic growth.

Referring to people to people ties, the Minister said, “India is one of the potential markets for Indonesia and continuously shows positive trends in growth. Last year in 2023, we received 606.439 Indian visitors.”

When asked about the recent Indonesian elections, Sandiaga who in the past worked with President elect Prabowo Subianto, said, “The people have been victorious in this smooth democratic exercise. The election results indicate that people have voted for continuity.”

On the spate of Chinese investments in the Indonesian economy the Minister was of the opinion that no foreign investments should create burden for the people of the country.