Technology can boost Indonesian product diplomacy: Deputy Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri said that technology adaptation can serve as a diplomatic tool to promote wider recognition of Indonesian products through storytelling.

"Technology can serve as a means of communication and a bridge for businesses seeking to market their products and expand their reach. In this context, technology functions as a tool to convey information and tell the story behind a product," she said during a panel discussion at the FEKDI & IFSE 2026 event in Jakarta on Friday.

According to Dyah Roro, the use of technology, from online sales to the use of artificial intelligence, not only expands market access for business owners but also serves as a means of product identity diplomacy through storytelling to increase recognition.

She cited Indonesian coffee products as an example, noting that in international markets, they are often more widely recognized by their regions of origin, such as Java, Kalimantan, or Sumatra. She said this presents an opportunity to strengthen Indonesia's identity as the country of origin of such products.

Dyah Roro said technology can be leveraged to develop compelling narratives that highlight the essence, uniqueness, and identity of a product.

This approach, says Dyah Roro, can also help small businesses reach consumers who were previously difficult to access.

Deputy Minister then addressed the importance of technology in preventing the digital divide from widening amid the rapid development of AI, adding that the government needs to ensure adequate training for businesses and the public to keep up with technological innovation.

"We must continue to ensure that AI, an increasingly developing technology, does not widen the gap," she said.

Further, utilizing technology as diplomacy, says Dyah Roro, can enhance the important role of MSMEs in the economy, which have proven to be resilient in all situations, including the pandemic.

In her presentation, MSMEs are said to contribute around 60 percent to GDP, while 64.5 percent of MSME entrepreneurs are women.

Therefore, Dyah Roro said strengthening entrepreneurs' capacity through education and training is essential to maximizing the benefits of technology.

Entrepreneurs must possess the ability to utilize technology in promoting their products and building their value, she remarked.

According to her, collaboration among the government, businesses, and the public is crucial to ensuring that technological advances can be harnessed to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian products and support the goal of achieving Golden Indonesia 2045.

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Translator: Fitra Ashari, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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