The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, finally inaugurated the Indonesia Digital Test House (IDTH), which will later be managed by the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo), in Depok, West Java, Tuesday (7/5/2024). This place is proof of Indonesia’s efforts to increase local capacity in technology development.
President Jokowi expressed worry about the excessive imports of technological devices in Indonesia, which amount to more than IDR 30 trillion. Jokowi is optimistic that with the introduction of IDTH, it will become a key player in the global technology supply chain.
“We must not just be spectators, we must not just be markets, and we must be players, producers,” said the President.
Furthermore, the President highlighted the low participation of local suppliers in the global supply chain. The President said that of Apple’s 320 global suppliers, only two came from Indonesia.
This is far in comparison with other ASEAN countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. According to the trader’s account suppliers from the Philippines there are 17, from Malaysia 19 suppliersfrom Thailand 24 suppliersfrom Vietnam 72 suppliers.
“In fact, in ASEAN, our GDP is the largest, 46 percent of ASEAN GDP is in Indonesia. “But we only have two suppliers,” he explained.
Functions and Benefits of IDTH for Indonesian Technology Development
The presence of IDTH is expected to be a catalyst in changing this paradigm. As an international standard device testing facility, IDTH is said to be the largest and most complete in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia spent nearly IDR 1 trillion in investment funds to build the IDTH facility. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to test a variety of digital devices ranging from laptops to radars.
“All digital devices are tested here, before they are marketed, they are tested here to ensure that the security, health and safety standards of the people who use these digital devices can be met,” explained the President.
IDTH is currently equipped with the latest facilities to test various digital device features, such as telecommunications features, radio frequency (RF), Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC), electrical safety, and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi stated that the IDTH facilities were quite complete as a telecommunications equipment testing laboratory.
“This testing facility functions to ensure security, safety and standardization of digital device products. “The devices tested include laptops, cellphones, Bluetooth, access points, digital television, handy talkies and radar,” he explained.
In accordance with President Joko Widodo’s direction, Minister Budi Arie targets IDTH to not only become a testing center, but also a Center of Excellence for digital devices in Indonesia. The Head of State instructed the Ministry of Communication and Information to collaborate with universities, start-up companies or startupsas well as MSMEs in encouraging research and patents, as well as supporting the development and certification of local products.
“Digitalization is the basis for domestic industrial and economic development by placing local producers as kings in their own country,” concluded President Jokowi while emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting the progress of Indonesia’s digital technology industry.
According to him, by collaborating with universities, startups and MSMEs, to conduct research and patents, we can support the development of testing and certification of local products so that domestic digital device products can compete.
Article entitled Jokowi Inaugurates IDTH in Depok, Technology Test Center that Costs IDR 1 Trillion! written by Zihan Fajrin first appeared on Gizmology
The Indonesian version of this article can be read in Gizmologi.ID
