REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said he was ready to meet Tiktok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Youtube CEO Neal Mohan with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Both sides are ready to discuss potential investments in the field of digital economy in Indonesia.
“They promised to come to Indonesia, but I haven't received the black and white (official letter) if they want to come. I'm waiting. I said, if they come to Indonesia later, I am ready to meet them with President Jokowi or Prabowo (if he already serves as president) in the future,” Erick said during a meeting at Nawasena Mandiri Corporate University Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/7/2024) evening.
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Erick encourages healthy discussions with Tiktok and Youtube about potential investments. He also wanted to discuss efforts to preserve Indonesian culture along with the massive use of social media platforms among the younger generation.
“Good cultures, Asian cultures, this is also a part for them (TikTok and Youtube) to take care of. And who knows, there is also a lot of educational content that can also be shared to other nations,” said the former Inter Milan owner.
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On Friday (26/7/2024), Erick uploaded a photo with Tiktok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Youtube CEO Neal Mohan on his Instagram account. The meeting took place during a dinner at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
Erick said that he was discussing Indonesia's digital economy potential that will reach Rp 4,500 trillion with the two CEOs. Mohan and Chew, writes Erick, believe in the potential of Indonesia's digital economy and say they are ready to support its development.
When confirmed, Erick explained that the meeting took place during an International Olympic Committee (IOC) event in France, when he was invited as an IOC member. At that time, Erick gets a chance to sit near Mohan and Chew.
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“It's funny when there are two big competing companies sitting at one table. And therein my pitching opportunity. Pitching in the sense that the digital economy in Indonesia has tremendous potential, will reach Rp 4,500 trillion,” explained Erick.
He said that the Indonesian government hopes Tiktok and Youtube can invest in Indonesia. The potential of the digital economy in Indonesia, he said, must be maximized together and not let Indonesia become just a market given that the country has great economic potential in Southeast Asia.
“If I am, they would like to invest again because economic growth in Indonesia is nothing but one of those investments. And that's as a job-opening tool that can be further maximized,” Erick said.
