Yogyakarta, 17 May 2022 –
The post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery has become a mutual agenda for G20 member countries. In Indonesia's G20 Presidency of 2022, this theme has also been incorporated into the agenda of the Digital Economy Working Group discussions, including on digital connectivity.
"During the emergency phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, together we are stronger. G20 members are currently working to rebuild, ignite the spirit to recover better together," said Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G. Plate in his Opening Remarks for the 2nd G20 DEWG Meeting 2022 which was organised in a hybrid format from Hotel Tentrem, Yogyakarta, Tuesday ( May 17).
The Minister hoped that the discussion about the Digital Ministerial Declaration Draft or Bali Package will result in one of the milestones and tangible results of the post-covid-19 recovery efforts.
"Today's discussion is expected to demonstrate our shared commitment in navigating the post-Covid-19 economic recovery through digital transformation. An acceleration, as expected by the previous G20 Presidency," he said.
Johnny believed that the discussions in this Second Session of the G20 DEWG meeting will produce appropriate recommendations to strengthen connectivity for post-Covid-19 recovery.
"Through exchanges of views on how digital technology is used in various industrial sectors we will come to a shared understanding of people-centred digital connectivity, where we are moving towards a more inclusive, empowering, and sustainable digital transformation," he explained.
He encouraged exchange of views on various digital security practices that have been implemented so far, so that each country can experience a better digital transformation. Moreover, the Minister invited all to establish a collaboration for mutual learning.
"We will also seek to exchange views on existing digital security practices as a key factor to support business sustainability, enable business matchmaking within the G20 Digital Innovation Network, and demonstrate each country's digital transformation milestones, as well as facilitate mutual learning and collaboration among G20 members, through the Digital Transformation Expo," he said.
According to Johnny, through the discussions, elaborations, and exchanges of best practices we would be able to face the challenges of the dynamic digital economy and encourage the advancement of global digital transformation.
"I believe that this 2nd meeting will produce substantive results, which will contribute to the goal of overcoming various challenges related to the digital economy, as well as encouraging the peaceful, innovative, and cooperative use of digital technology to advance digital transformation globally," he concluded.
In the opening of the Second Session of the DEWG G20, Minister Johnny was accompanied by all high-ranking officials within the Ministry of Communications and Informatics. Meanwhile, the session was chaired directly by the Ministry's Secretary General who is also the Chair of DEWG, Mira Tayyiba, and the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Informatics for Digital Policy and Human Resources who is also the Alternate Chair of DEWG, Dedy Permadi. Delegates from 15 G20 member states attended the meeting in person in Yogyakarta. These delegates come from the United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, England, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the European Union. Meanwhile, delegates from five countries attended the meeting virtually, including Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Russia. Also present were invited delegates from Singapore and Cambodia as well as representatives of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
