Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 9, 2026 at 09:46 AM UTC

AI, semiconductors, digital talent new growth engines: Hartarto

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Bayu, Kenzu

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto pushed for the development of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and digital talent as new economic growth engines to improve Indonesia's productivity and competitiveness.

"Indonesia must continue to strengthen new growth engines. We not only need to maintain economic growth, but also improve productivity, strengthen industry, and prepare human resources capable of meeting future economic challenges," Hartarto said here on Friday.

He made this statement at the 2026 public lecture and Educational Advisory Board (DPP) Scholarship Handover at Semarang State University (UNNES).

Hartarto explained that digital transformation is one opportunity that needs to be utilized to pursue higher productivity.

As the country with Southeast Asia's largest digital economy, Indonesia needs to play a role not only as a user, but also as a developer and producer of digital added value.

To support this effort, developing an ecosystem connecting data centers, AI, semiconductors, and digital talent is increasingly important in determining the competitiveness of the national industry in the future.

The government has also established cooperation on semiconductor technology development with ARM Holdings of the United Kingdom. The cooperation is directed at strengthening semiconductor design capabilities while preparing the talent needed by the industry.

In addition, Indonesia participates as a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), an international cooperation platform to promote the development and governance of AI.

At the regional level, cooperation is also being strengthened through the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is expected to expand digital economy integration.

Furthermore, he asked students to master digital technology, because human resource capacity needs to be increased so Indonesia can meet the needs of a continually developing industry.

"Young people are becoming more digitally literate than their grandparents and great-grandparents, so this is the next economy that we must master," he said.

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