Microsoft Builds Research Center with Indonesian Government

The government collaborates with Microsoft to build digital human resources. A research center will also be built.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/VICO

Microsoft will expand its investment in Indonesia. This was announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during his meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday morning, April 30th, 2024.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Multinational technology company Microsoft will be investing in Indonesia for the next four years. Not only will they be developing human resources in the field of artificial intelligence, but Microsoft will also soon be building a technology research center in Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo received Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024) morning. Nadella's presence was accompanied by President Microsoft Asia Ahmed Mazhari, President Microsoft ASEAN Andrea Della Mattea, President Director Microsoft Indonesia Dharma Simorangkir, and Director Governor Affairs Microsoft Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Ajar Edi. Meanwhile President Jokowi was accompanied by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi, and the Minister of State Secretary .

The meeting between Nadella and President Jokowi was brief. The meeting started at 08.30 and ended at around 08.50 WIB. Nadella and his entourage were seen leaving the Presidential Palace Complex at 08.54 WIB without giving any statement to the journalists.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/VICO

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (left), Microsoft Indonesia President Director Dharma Simorangkir (center), and Microsoft Asia President Ahmed Mazhari climbed the stairs of the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta to meet with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

According to Budi Arie, Nadella stated that Microsoft will make a significant investment in Indonesia for the next four years in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing infrastructure. This investment will create opportunities for AI training for 840,000 people over four years.

In addition, there is also support for the developing developer community in Indonesia such as the AI Oddyssey program, which is expected to reach 10,000 developers with Microsoft credentials.

"So, the conversation with the President was more about human resource development, building digital talent in the AI ​​field. "This is also important for Indonesia in the context of digital transformation," he said.

The President Director of Microsoft Indonesia, Dharma Simorangkir, conveyed Microsoft's commitment to the development of Microsoft's business and investment in Indonesia. However, the value will be announced at JCC by Nadella.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/VICO

President Joko Widodo welcomed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024) morning.

Reportedly, this investment will be worth more than 1 billion US dollars.

According to Arie, President Jokowi hopes that Microsoft will build a research center in Indonesia. "Microsoft has Microsoft Asia Pacific Development Center, the President is asking for one of them to be built in Indonesia," he said.

It is hoped that this AI technology research center can also develop technology in various sectors. For example, the use of AI for the agriculture and fisheries sectors. "We believe that with the development of technology, we can become a developed country," he added.

For the location of this research center, the government is offering Bali and IKN. Microsoft is also offered to assist the Indonesian Government in developing IKN as a smart city.