Indonesia and Singapore Join Forces to Build a Semiconductor Ecosystem: A Golden Opportunity for Young Tech Professionals

Jakarta, INTI - In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations and foster collaboration in the technology sector, Indonesia and Singapore are taking a significant step forward with the implementation of the Tech

Program agreement. The bilateral meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2nd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting and Related Events in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/08), highlighted the enthusiasm of both countries to enhance cooperation in technology and human resources (HR) development.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, who also serves as the 2nd Minister of Trade and Industry, openly expressed their commitment to ensuring the success of the Tech

Program. This program is designed to provide young tech professionals from both countries with the opportunity to work and gain experience for one year in each other's technology industries.

The Tech Program was officially agreed upon with the signing of the Technical Arrangement on the Indonesia-Singapore Tech Program on June 7, 2024, on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Indonesia-Singapore Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups (MM 6WG). Currently, both countries are preparing for the first batch of participants through a pilot project, which is expected to be a significant milestone in the program's success.

During the meeting, Minister Airlangga emphasized the importance of HR development in the technology sector, particularly in the semiconductor industry. He believes that Indonesia has great potential to create a competitive semiconductor ecosystem, and Singapore's role as a key partner is crucial in making this a reality.

"We aim to develop Indonesia's HR expertise in microelectronics to support the creation of a semiconductor ecosystem in the country. We invite Singapore to join us in this development, both in terms of investment and knowledge transfer," said Minister Airlangga.

On the other hand, Singapore remains Indonesia's leading economic partner. With over USD 15 billion invested in Indonesia in 2023 alone, accounting for around 30% of all foreign investment, Singapore has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting Indonesia's economic growth. Additionally, Singapore is a vital trade partner, with both countries continuing to forge close cooperation in various sectors.

Beyond the Tech Program, the meeting also covered discussions on developing cooperation in the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun (BBK) regions. Minister Airlangga expressed his hope that collaboration in the BBK region could extend to sectors such as energy and submarine cables, which are seen as strategic areas for supporting the economic growth of both countries.

Furthermore, Minister Airlangga and Minister Tan discussed several other strategic issues, including the 2nd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting and Related Events, the Indonesia-Singapore Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups, Indonesia's accession plan to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Indonesia's participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP-TPP).

This meeting reflects the commitment of both countries to continue strengthening bilateral relations and creating new opportunities for young tech professionals, while also promoting the development of Indonesia's semiconductor industry. With Singapore's support, Indonesia is expected to become a key player in the global technology industry.