Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is encouraging local governments across the country to begin adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to improve civil servants’ productivity, enhance government efficiency, and deliver higher-quality public services.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria emphasized that AI adoption must be strategically directed to generate tangible benefits for government operations and regional economic growth.
He made the remarks at the Gadjah Mada Digital Transformation Governance Index (GM-DTGI) Award 2026, held in Yogyakarta on Thursday.
“AI technology should be utilized to support productivity, improve work efficiency, and enhance the quality of public services,” Nezar said.
According to Nezar, local governments must promptly adapt to the rapid development of AI, as the technology is becoming increasingly integrated into various aspects of everyday life, including public administration.
The advancement of artificial intelligence has become a key driver of digital transformation, requiring local governments to adjust their operational systems, administrative processes, and public service delivery.
However, Nezar noted that the current wave of AI development presents different characteristics compared to previous digitalization initiatives.
While AI offers significant opportunities to improve government performance, it also introduces new challenges that must be carefully anticipated and addressed during implementation.
Digital Transformation Index Now Covers 508 Regencies and Cities
Nezar Patria also highlighted the importance of measuring local government digital transformation through the GM-DTGI Award 2026, which serves as an evaluation instrument for assessing the adoption of digital technologies in public administration.
He stressed that this assessment is particularly important because regency and city governments serve as the frontline of public service delivery, maintaining direct interactions with citizens.
“The initiative provides a more detailed and substantive assessment of how local governments adopt digital technology at both local and regional levels. After all, local governments are where public services are delivered on the front lines,” Nezar stated.
He explained that the GM-DTGI assessment has expanded significantly over the past two years, reflecting the growing number of local governments included in the digital transformation evaluation.
During this period, the index coverage increased from 429 regencies and cities to 508 regencies and cities across Indonesia.
This broader coverage enables the GM-DTGI to provide a more comprehensive overview of the progress and current state of digital transformation within local governments nationwide.
Nezar emphasized that the index is not merely intended to identify the highest-performing local governments or highlight regions that are falling behind.
Instead, the assessment aims to help each local government understand its current position and progress in implementing digital transformation.
Assessment Results to Guide Regional Digital Improvement
Nezar explained that GM-DTGI assessment results can help local governments identify areas that require further improvement in their digital technology implementation.
Beyond serving as an evaluation tool, the index is also expected to help local governments identify successful digital governance practices implemented in other regions.
These best practices can serve as benchmarks, enabling local governments to learn from one another and accelerate more balanced digital transformation across the country.
“The objective is not to determine who is ahead and who is behind. Rather, it is to help local governments answer three important questions: Where do we stand in the digital transformation process? What needs to be improved? And which regions can provide best practices or benchmarks for us to learn from so that we can progress together?” Nezar said.
Through this approach, digital transformation assessments are expected to go beyond rankings and become a foundation for local governments to develop strategies that strengthen governance and improve public service quality.
Yogyakarta City Wins National Digital Government Award
At the GM-DTGI Award 2026, the Yogyakarta City Government received the National Best Award for Digital Government Implementation in recognition of its achievements in advancing digital transformation across municipal government operations.
Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo said the recognition was an achievement worth celebrating while also serving as motivation to continuously improve the quality of digital government services.
According to Hasto, successful digital transformation should not be measured solely by awards or the implementation of technological systems. Instead, it must deliver tangible benefits that citizens can directly experience.
He emphasized that effective digital government systems should result in public services that are faster, more accessible, and more accountable.
“What we ultimately hope to achieve and what matters most to us is the quality of public services. When digital government systems function effectively, people should experience faster and more accountable services,” Hasto said.
The recognition marks another milestone for the Yogyakarta City Government in its digital transformation journey while reinforcing its commitment to improving public service delivery.
Through its push for AI adoption and stronger digital transformation assessments via the GM-DTGI, Komdigi hopes local governments across Indonesia will continue strengthening their technological capabilities to improve government efficiency, civil servants’ productivity, and the overall quality of public services.
Conclusion
Indonesia is accelerating digital transformation at the regional level by encouraging local governments to adopt AI technology, strengthen digital governance, and deliver more efficient, accessible, and accountable public services.
Read more: Metranet Introduces AI-Powered Executive Dashboard to Enhance DPR RI’s Operational Efficiency