Meutya Hafid, Minister of Communication and Digital Application, met with Marisa Lago, Deputy Minister of Trade of the United States and Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, Ambassador of the United States on Monday, November 18, 2024, discussing cooperation in the field of digital technology.
“This meeting is a strategic step to strengthen relations between Indonesia and the United States,” Meutya said on Monday, November 18, 2024.
She cited that digital transformation related to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart cities was the main focus of the discussion with the two U.S. government officials.
Meutya said further that as many as 12 companies from the U.S. had visited Jakarta, Denpasar in Bali, and the future Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan.
This visit was designed to introduce investment potential in the development of smart cities. In addition, it also highlighted the importance of strengthening cybersecurity, and developing AI-based technology.
Meutya said that collaboration with the U.S. would ensure that AI technology not only drives innovation, but also brings other benefits to Indonesia such as in the education, health, transportation, and governance sectors.
“Through this partnership, we want to ensure that AI not only drives innovation, but also contributes to sustainable socio-economic progress,” she said.
Lago’s arrival in Jakarta is part of the Innovative Technology Trade Mission for Urban Infrastructure Development to deepen economic relations with Indonesia.
“This trade mission is the first mission of the US Department of Commerce focused on smart cities, bringing some of the most cutting-edge US companies in the technology and infrastructure industries to Indonesia,” Lago said as quoted in a statement on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
