Indonesia Prepares 15,000 AI Talents, Highlights Digital Push At GrabX
JAKARTA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s push to position digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) as new engines of growth is set to support the expansion of platforms such as Grab, with the government preparing 15,000 AI-ready talents this year.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the talent development programme, undertaken in collaboration with United Kingdom-based Software Farm, is aimed at ensuring the availability of adaptable digital talent as technological advancements reshape labour market demands.
“The government views digitalisation and AI as new engines of growth. Indonesia has a highly promising digital economy, with e-commerce gross merchandise value approaching US$100 billion (US$1=RM3.99),” he said in his remarks at the GrabX 2026 programme, here, Wednesday.
Also present was Grab group chief executive officer and co-founder Anthony Tan.
Airlangga noted that according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index, Indonesia ranks 55th, supported by growing innovation ecosystem comprising about 3,200 startups and seven unicorns operating across sectors such as food and beverage, fintech, e-commerce, and transportation.
He also pointed to increasing revenues from AI-based activities across Southeast Asia, which further strengthens Indonesia’s position as one of the most promising AI markets in the region.
At the regional level, the minister said Indonesia initiated the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework during its leadership and is expected to be signed in 2026 under the Philippines’ leadership.
“Once implemented, the global digital economy opportunity could expand from US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion by 2030,” he said.
Airlangga expressed appreciation to Grab for choosing Indonesia as the host of GrabX 2026, noting that the country accounts for around 40 per cent of the company’s operations.
“This is why we thank you for choosing Indonesia to host GrabX. It is necessary and fitting,” he said.
He emphasised that Grab’s ecosystem plays a significant role in supporting national economic growth, particularly through its partnerships with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and strong alignment with the Cooperatives Ministry.
“This partnership will create a level playing field if the benefits enjoyed by Grab can be extended to SMEs. Grab AI applications should not only serve drivers and partners, but also merchants, enabling them to improve efficiency and compete with modern retailers.
“AI-driven insights from sales trends to customer summaries can help SMEs determine what products to develop or procure.
“Beyond the technology itself, Grab’s digital ecosystem serves as a vital engine for national economic growth, consistently creating inclusive job opportunities. This demonstrates how technology and workforce empowerment can form a powerful partnership,” he said.
Beyond AI, he said there is also a need for locally available data centres, particularly given that about 40 per cent of operations are hosted domestically to ensure faster service delivery.
“In terms of land, electricity, and water costs, Indonesia remains highly competitive compared to other countries,” he added.
-- BERNAMA