The Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G Plate hopes that the discussion on the Draft Ministerial Declaration for Digital, or Bali Package, will be one of the milestones and tangible results in recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic recovery has received serious attention from the G-20 member countries. The theme also colored the discussion agenda of the G-20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), which also discussed digital connectivity. "Today's discussion is expected to demonstrate our shared commitment in navigating the economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic through digital transformation. Acceleration, as expected by the previous G-20 Presidency," said the Minister of Communication and Information at the Opening Remarks 2nd Meeting DEWG G-20 2022 which took place in a hybrid from Tentrem Hotel, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (17/5/2022). "During the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are stronger together. The members of the G-20 are currently working to rebuild, igniting the spirit to recover together better," he said. This achievement was appreciated by the Chairman of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) Batam City, Rafki Rasyid. He said, as previously expected, that 2022 is the year of the Riau Islands' economic revival after two years of depression due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is proven by the economy of Batam City which can grow 2.83 percent compared to the first quarter of 2021 year on year. The sector that has the most contribution for the first quarter of 2022 is still the manufacturing sector. "From the expenditure side, it turns out that the Riau Islands' net exports are still positive with a growth of 2.10 percent," said Rafki. This, continued Rafki, is certainly quite encouraging for all parties, because the signs of an economic revival are increasingly visible. He hopes that this trend of economic growth will continue until the end of 2022. However, Rafki still noted that when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, the Riau Islands' economic growth contracted, namely minus 3.41 percent.
This contraction, he said, was still at a reasonable level. Because at the beginning of the year, usually the private sector will only realize their investment and the government has not yet started the projects. Usually in the second or third quarter, economic growth will rise even higher when all sectors have started to move optimally. “Including the government, which has started to realize its spending in the middle of the year. I estimate the Riau Islands economy will be even higher in the second quarter later," he said. Then, when compared to the national economic growth year on year, the Riau Islands' economic growth is getting farther and farther away from national economic growth. Indonesia's economy in the first quarter of 2022 can grow 5.01 percent compared to the first quarter of 2021 ago. Although both experienced contractions when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, Indonesia's economic growth contraction was only 0.96 percent, compared to the Riau Islands' economic contraction of 3.41 percent. “Of course, this can be used as a warning for the Riau Islands provincial government to find the cause. Why has the Riau Islands economy not been able to catch up with the national economy," he said. Meanwhile, as we all know, before 2015 the Riau Islands economy was always better than the national economy. Moreover, Riau Islands Province has 4 FTZ facilities and has 3 Special Economic Zone facilities that are already running. "The Riau Islands' economic growth should be better than the national economic growth," he added. The Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G Plate hopes that the discussion on the Draft Ministerial Declaration for Digital, or Bali Package, will be one of the milestones and tangible results in recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic recovery has received serious attention from the G-20 member countries. The theme also colored the discussion agenda of the G-20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), which also discussed digital connectivity. "Today's discussion is expected to demonstrate our shared commitment in navigating the economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic through digital transformation. Acceleration, as expected by the previous G-20 Presidency," said the Minister of Communication and Information at the Opening Remarks 2nd Meeting DEWG G-20 2022 which took place in a hybrid from Tentrem Hotel, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (17/5/2022). "During the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are stronger together. The members of the G-20 are currently working to rebuild, igniting the spirit to recover together better," he said.
Johnny believes that the discussion in the second session of the DEWG G-20 this time will produce appropriate recommendations to strengthen connectivity for post-Covid-19 recovery. This leads to a more inclusive, empowering and sustainable digital transformation. "Through the exchange of views on how digital technology is used in various industrial sectors, leading to a shared understanding of human-centered digital connectivity, where we are moving towards a digital transformation that is more inclusive, empowering, and sustainable," said the Minister of Communication and Information. The exchange of views on various digital security practices that have been implemented so far, is aimed at making digital transformation in each country run smoothly. Johnny also invites collaboration to create shared learning. “We will also seek to exchange views on existing digital security practices as a key factor to support business sustainability, enable business matchmaking in the G-20 Digital Innovation Network, and demonstrate each country's digital transformation milestones, as well as facilitate shared learning and collaboration between countries. members of the G-20, through the Digital Transformation Expo," said the Minister of Communication and Information. Through a process of discussion, discussion, and exchanging best practices, Johnny stated that the world will be able to face the challenges of the dynamics of the digital economy and encourage the advancement of global digital transformation.
"I believe that this second meeting will produce substantive results that will contribute to the goal of overcoming various challenges related to the digital economy, as well as encouraging the peaceful, innovative and cooperative use of digital technology to advance digital transformation globally," hoped the Minister of Communication and Informatics. In the opening of the second session of the DEWG G-20, Johnny was accompanied by all high-ranking officials within the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo). Meanwhile, the session was chaired directly by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication and Information who is also the Chair of DEWG Mira Tayyiba and the Special Staff of the Minister of Communication and Information for Digital Policy and Human Resources who became the Alternate Chair of DEWG Dedy Permadi. Delegations from 15 member countries of the G-20 attended in person in Yogyakarta. The delegates came from the United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, England, India. Then, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the European Union. Meanwhile, delegates from five countries attended online, namely Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Russia. Also present were invited delegates from Singapore and Cambodia as well as representatives of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
