TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information (Kominfo) Budi Arie disclosed the outcome of the meeting between President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 17. Budi said the President had advocated the tech giant to invest in the country’s new capital Nusantara or IKN.

“The President conveyed this to Tim Cook and invited Apple to participate in the development of the smart city of IKN,” Budi said at the Kominfo office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, April 17.

According to him, the U.S. company was mulling investing in IKN and showed its commitment and seriousness in developing smart city technology in the new capital. However, the amount of the investment has not yet been agreed.

“The details are still under discussion, including incentives for Apple if necessary,” Budi added.

Jokowi also lobbied Apple to invest in the manufacturing sector, hoping the country would become both the market and part of the global supply chain.

To date, Apple has decided to erect an Apple Developer Academy in Bali, with an investment value of Rp1.2 trillion. There are already three similar academies in Indonesia, namely in Batam, Surabaya, and BSD Tangerang.

In an official statement, Apple also said that it would expand its investment in Indonesia, especially to augment opportunities for developers, students, and entrepreneurs willing to commence their careers in the growing iOS application industry in the region.

The Apple Developer Academy opened in Indonesia for the first time in 2018 and has been attended by more than 2,000 aspiring developers. According to Apple, 90 percent of the program's graduates have found jobs in various sectors, including education, e-commerce, transportation, and sustainability.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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