The Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) of Indonesia, Meutya Hafid, has emphasized the government's commitment to fostering inclusive digital transformation. As part of this effort, the ministry is exploring collaboration with international tech platform Yandex to strengthen Indonesia's digital ecosystem.

“Indonesia is currently experiencing a significant acceleration in digital transformation. Yandex’s innovative services can contribute greatly to advancing information and communication technology in the country,” Meutya stated during a meeting with Yandex Search International CEO, Alexander Popovskiy, at the ministry’s office on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Yandex, known as a leading search engine in Russia and several other countries, offers a range of services, including web search, mapping technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and solutions for e-commerce and social media.

Meutya welcomed the potential collaboration, highlighting its alignment with the government’s goal of realizing the "Indonesia Digital" vision.

Indonesia, with a population exceeding 270 million and rapidly growing internet penetration, presents a strategic market for tech development and innovation.

"Yandex has a strong chance of gaining traction in Indonesia given its massive number of active internet users. Out of Yandex's global 150 million users, this number is expected to grow significantly with its expansion into Indonesia," she added.

Alexander Popovskiy expressed Yandex’s interest in tailoring its technology to local needs, aiming to accelerate digitalization across various sectors in Indonesia.

“Yandex is committed to providing substantial benefits for the Indonesian public, whether through faster, more relevant information access or enhancing digital experiences,” said Popovskiy.

He also emphasized Yandex’s AI technology and mapping services, which could support areas like education and digital economics.

“I believe there’s much we can achieve, especially with our experience in fields like education, artificial intelligence, and child protection. We hope to work with Indonesia to foster healthy competition in the digital platform space,” Popovskiy added.

The collaboration could pave the way for broader tech advancements, further solidifying Indonesia's position as a rising digital powerhouse in Southeast Asia.

PHOTO: MENKOMDIGI

This article was created with AI assistance.