TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish a partnership in digital economic development cooperation. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the Communication and Information ministers of both nations, Rudiantara and Abdullah Amer Al-Swaha, in Riyadh, Thursday, July 4.

The MoU on Digital Collaborations is part of the follow-ups to Saudi King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud's visit to Indonesia in March 2017. President Joko Widodo also visited him in April this year.

Rudiantara said the cooperation will support Indonesia's 'Asia's Digital Energy Vision' next year. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia will have support to materialize its 2013 goals, which includes reducing oil dependency through the digital economy.

"The two countries will exchange information and experience in developing the digital economy, and share experts' knowledge in the field of the digital economy. Indonesia also opens opportunities to bring Indonesian digital products and technology to Saudi Arabia," Rudiantara said.

Indonesia's success in growing the digital ecosystem to drive the MSME contribution to the economy, Rudiantara said, attracted the Saudi Arabian government's attention. The birth of start-ups qualified to become local unicorns also attracted Saudi Arabia's interest in cooperating with Indonesia.

"Our digital economic growth, which is able to serve as an economic buffer, inspires Saudi to become a strategic partner," he said.

Sunu Dyantoro