Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.
Latest Reports Digital Economy
On 6 July 2023 Indonesia Investments released the June 2023 edition of its monthly report. In the report we present a number of analyses of topics (all related to the economy, politics and social matters) that were relevant in Indonesia in the month of June 2023.
On Thursday (6 April 2023), Indonesia Investments released the March 2023 edition of its monthly report. In this report we offer in-depth analyses of the key economic, political and social matters that impacted on Indonesia in the month of March 2023.
Over the past year, we released two stories on the merger of Gojek and Tokopedia, two Indonesian tech companies that have evolved into huge companies over the past decade (with Gojek having turned into a Decacorn and Tokopedia into a unicorn).
On Thursday (06.01.2022) Indonesia Investments released the December 2021 edition of its monthly report. This report discusses a range of subjects - related to political developments, the economy and social matters - that were important and influential issues in Indonesia in the month of December 2021.
While the digital economy of the Southeast Asian region was already developing at a very fast rate prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 crisis, it was this crisis that would act as a catalyst for even more rapid development of the region’s digital economy.
In recent months most attention went to the merger of Indonesian ‘superapp’ Gojek and e-commerce giant Tokopedia – including their plans to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). But we should not forget that another Indonesian e-commerce giant (and tech startup unicorn), called Bukalapak, is scheduled to list on the IDX on 6 August 2021.
Although we already discussed the (then-looming) merger between Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (Gojek) and Tokopedia in detail in our January 2021 report, we do feel it is justified to cover this topic once more – albeit slightly more succinct this time – since it is now official (announced on 17 May 2021) that both sides re to merge, thus creating a massive entity (named GoTo) with an impressive and unique ecosystem.
Indonesia does not want to be left behind in terms of developing its digital economic potential. In early March 2021, the Indonesian government inaugurated the "Indonesian-style Silicon Valley" called Nongsa D-Town. This 5,000 m2 area is located on Batam Island, which is positioned very close to Singapore.
Digital banks will soon become a reality for Indonesians. Chief Executive of Banking Supervision of Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (in Indonesian: Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, or OJK) Heru Kristiyana recently confirmed that this supervisory agency is currently drafting regulations for the establishment of digital banks in Indonesia.
Possibly the biggest story in local Indonesian media over the past couple of days (if we exclude coverage of any COVID-19-related matters) is the news that Gojek is in talks (in fact in the final stages, reportedly) to merge with Tokopedia. Based on the input of people familiar with the matter, the two companies have agreed to conduct due diligence on their respective businesses.
Latest Columns Digital Economy
The number of smartphone users in Indonesia is rising rapidly in line with growing per capita GDP and widening Internet penetration across the Archipelago. Based on data from research institute eMarketer there were 69.4 million smartphone users in Indonesia at the end of 2016. Moreover, the number of Indonesian smartphone users is expected to grow to 103 million by 2018, which would make Indonesia the fourth-largest smartphone market worldwide after China, India and the United States.
During Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Googleplex, Silicon Valley (California) - headquarters of Google, Facebook, Twitter and Plug and Play - he emphasized that the government of Indonesia is committed to push for the development of the digital economy, aiming to make it the largest in Southeast Asia, worth USD $130 billion by 2020 (including the emergence of 1,000 Indonesian technopreneurs). In this context, Widodo also requested the assistance of Google, Facebook and Plug and Play in the form of IT development education.
