Indonesia Targets Nationwide Digital Village Transformation by 2025

Bandung, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (PDT) has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform all 75,265 Indonesian villages into digitally empowered communities, or “Digital Villages,” by 2025.

Ivanovich Agusta, Head of the Village, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Development and Information Agency (BPI), announced the initiative on Saturday, emphasizing that villages would rely on their allocated budgets to achieve this transformation. “Next year, we are targeting the transformation of all villages into Digital Villages by utilizing their village funds,” Agusta stated.

This initiative aligns with Law Number 62 of 2024, which prioritizes the use of village funds for the integration of information technology to accelerate the Digital Village program. The concept of Digital Villages, synonymous with Smart Villages, is also supported by Ministerial Decree Number 55 of 2024.

Agusta highlighted that the digitalization of villages has been a key priority since the era of President Joko Widodo. However, he acknowledged that progress has been uneven, with only 14,000 villages utilizing their funds for digitalization programs over the past three years.

“The progress is not being properly monitored. In the last three years, only 14,000 villages have used their funds for digitalization,” he noted, underlining the need for greater focus and coordination to meet the 2025 target.

The Digital Village program envisions leveraging technology to enhance basic services, improve human resources, and promote sustainable community development. It aims to empower rural communities to embrace modern solutions, fostering growth and inclusivity in village life.

From 2020 to 2024, three thousand villages have been recorded as having adopted the Smart Village model. Agusta expressed hope that these villages will play a pivotal role in accelerating Indonesia’s nationwide digital transformation.

This bold initiative underscores Indonesia’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and fostering equitable development across its rural communities