[Video address]
Your Excellency, Daniel Simanjuntak, Director General for Economic Relations and Development Cooperation of Indonesia,
Dear Ms. Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
It is a pleasure to join you today for the launch of Indonesia’s eTrade Readiness Assessment.
Let me begin by thanking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia for its strong leadership during the preparation of this report. I would also like to thank Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for its generous support.
During the national consultations, our Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, stressed an important message: digital development must be inclusive and centered on people. Today’s launch is a concrete step toward making that vision a reality.
This assessment is significant for two reasons. First, it is the first eTrade Readiness Assessment to include environmental sustainability, reflecting new priorities in the global digital economy. Second, it is the first assessment that UNCTAD has conducted in a G20 country. The timing is ideal.
Indonesia’s digital economy is growing at a remarkable pace. In 2024, it was valued at around 90 billion US dollars, making it the largest in Southeast Asia. By 2030, it is expected to reach $300 billion. This creates many opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities. Digital trade must support sustainable growth, strengthen social inclusion, and protect the environment.
The assessment reviews Indonesia’s e-commerce and digital trade ecosystem in a comprehensive way. It looks at policies, technology adoption, the role of MSMEs, the legal and regulatory environment, as well as digital payments and financial inclusion. It recognizes the strong progress that has been made and highlights the challenges that remain.
A key strength of this report is the broad participation behind it. Government institutions, the private sector, civil society, academia, and development partners – from Jakarta to Makassar and Medan – all contributed valuable insights.
The findings show several notable achievements. One is the rapid expansion of the QRIS digital payment system, which now supports more than 30 million merchants. This has helped advance financial inclusion, including through cross-border payments in ASEAN and East Asia. Another achievement is the strong growth in the number of MSMEs engaged in the digital economy – increasing from about 7 million in 2020 to 30 million in 2024.
At the same time, the report highlights areas where more action is needed. These include supporting the informal sector and underserved communities, strengthening institutional coordination, addressing regional gaps in access to technology, and improving cross-border facilitation for e-commerce. Progress in these areas will be essential for Indonesia’s digital transformation.
The recommendations in the assessment offer a clear roadmap for enhancing digital competitiveness, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that all communities benefit — including women, youth, persons with disabilities, MSMEs, and the informal sector. They also provide a strong basis for deeper cooperation within ASEAN.
I encourage all partners to use the findings of this assessment as a call for coordinated action. This will require close collaboration across government and strong engagement between the public and private sectors. UNCTAD stands ready to support Indonesia through follow-up activities, policy dialogue, capacity-building, and partnerships.
Let me once again congratulate the Government of Indonesia on this important milestone and thank everyone who contributed to this effort. I look forward to seeing the positive results this assessment will bring for Indonesia’s people and economy.
Thank you.