REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SERPONG -- The era of competition and rivalry is indeed fierce, but it must be faced if one does not want to be left behind other countries, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"The world of competition and rivalry is really cruel, but it is a challenge that we have to face, so we do not fall behind other countries," President Jokowi stated while opening the Indonesian E-Commerce Summit and Expo at the Indonesia Convention and Exhibition in Serpong, Banten, on Wednesday.

Jokowi said during a recent visit to the Silicon Valley in the United States he realized that Indonesia was lagging far behind in the world of digital economy and e-commerce.

To this end, the president has requested to immediately increase the number of developers in the sectors of digital economy and e-commerce to be at par and compete with other countries that have been capitalizing on these sectors since long.

"We must increase the number of developers in order to match up with nations that have started long ago," he affirmed.

Jokowi admitted that the world of digital economy and e-commerce had vast potential, and this opportunity should be promptly utilized.

The president then urged the minister of information and communications to formulate a budget to conduct research and build infrastructure to promote the expansion of digital economy and e-commerce in Indonesia.

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