Jakarta, INTI - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the development of data centers will be one of the main drivers of Indonesia’s efforts to achieve higher economic growth.
According to Airlangga, data centers serve as critical infrastructure for the advancement of the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), both of which are expected to become major engines of future economic growth.
“Indonesia aims to achieve growth of more than 8%, and one of the key enablers is the digital economy. The foundation of that growth is AI, and AI can only thrive when supported by strong data center infrastructure,” Airlangga said during the 1st Decade of IDPRO 2026 event, titled Indonesia’s Future through the Development and Strengthening of Digital Talent in Indonesia’s Data Centre Sector as an ASEAN Hub Centre of Excellence, held in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Airlangga praised the contribution of IDPRO over the past decade in advancing Indonesia’s data center industry. He noted that the sector has emerged as a game changer for the national economy, driven by the growing demand for digital infrastructure to support economic activities and technological transformation.
The government is also strengthening regional digital cooperation through the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is expected to be signed at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
Once implemented, DEFA is projected to unlock greater digital economic potential across ASEAN while creating new opportunities for Indonesia to strengthen its position as one of the region’s leading digital economy hubs.
Strengthening Indonesia’s Digital and Semiconductor Ecosystem
Airlangga further emphasized that Indonesia possesses several competitive advantages for expanding its data center industry, including abundant land availability, competitive energy costs, and access to diverse domestic energy sources such as geothermal, solar, and hydropower.
To support industry growth, the government continues to develop supporting infrastructure aimed at ensuring reliable energy supply for data center operations across the country.
Beyond data centers, Airlangga also called for the acceleration of Indonesia’s semiconductor industry through collaboration with UK-based technology company Arm Holdings on chip design development.
The initiative is expected to provide a foundation for future technologies, including AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and quantum computing.
To strengthen the broader digital ecosystem, the government has set a target of training 15,000 young talents in semiconductor-related fields over the next three years.
The program is expected to enhance Indonesia’s human capital capabilities while fostering a new generation of digital engineers capable of competing globally.
“Indonesia is better prepared than many other ASEAN countries. We must maintain this momentum by continuing to strengthen digital talent, data center infrastructure, and the semiconductor industry so that Indonesia remains competitive in the global digital economy,” Airlangga concluded.
Conclusion
Airlangga underscored the strategic role of data centers, digital talent, and semiconductor development in supporting Indonesia’s ambition to become a leading digital economy in ASEAN. Backed by growing digital infrastructure, regional cooperation initiatives, and investments in future technologies, Indonesia is positioning itself to capitalize on the rapid expansion of the digital economy while pursuing its long-term goal of achieving economic growth above 8 percent.
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