Indonesia, UNDP Sign Statement of Intent to Accelerate Digital Transformation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The National Economic Council (DEN) of Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on Monday, affirming their commitment to jointly advance Indonesia’s digital transformation agenda through the Digital Nusantara initiative.
According to a press release received in Jakarta, the initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s national mandate to modernize public service delivery and build an integrated digital infrastructure that enhances efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity.
DEN Chairperson Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan welcomed the collaboration with optimism, stating, “This initiative is about improving public service delivery through integration and efficiency, as well as by providing tangible results for our people.” He emphasized that a unified digital system would streamline bureaucracy and ensure government services, particularly social assistance, reach the intended recipients in a timely and effective manner.
UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative Norimasa Shimomura described the partnership as a significant milestone. “Digital transformation is not just about technology. It is about improving how public services reach people,” he remarked. “We are proud to support DEN’s leadership through the Digital Nusantara initiative to unlock the full potential of digital public infrastructure for inclusive and accountable governance.”
DEN Executive Secretary Septian Hario Seto explained that the initiative prioritizes the development of a secure and interoperable digital backbone, beginning with the integration of social protection services. “This integration allows services to be delivered faster, more accurately, and with greater accountability, supporting the president’s vision for a modern, inclusive, and resilient economy,” he noted.
With over 200 million mobile internet users and a digital economy expected to reach USD 194.5 billion in e-commerce alone by 2030, Indonesia is well-positioned to harness digital technologies for inclusive and sustainable development. However, shifting from a fragmented digital landscape to a unified, scalable, and secure system demands substantial technical, institutional, and cultural transformations.
At the heart of this transformation lies the adoption of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework, which integrates digital identity, authentication protocols, and interoperable data systems. DPI ensures seamless access to essential government services, such as social protection, health, and civil registration, while strengthening transparency and responsiveness.
Under the agreement, DEN and UNDP will focus on finalizing the digital system for social protection, raising public awareness of the unified platform, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, and expanding DPI applications to other public service areas. These collective efforts aim to simplify public access, promote data-driven policymaking, increase government accountability, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilization.
UNDP will contribute strategic advisory services, technical assistance from national and international experts, and the mobilization of local knowledge and resources to support implementation.
While the initial focus is on unifying the social protection system, the approach holds potential to be scaled up to include broader services such as civil registration, national health systems, and digital payment platforms—fostering more accessible, reliable, and citizen-centered governance across Indonesia.
