Information ministry gets ready to become ICT hub

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Communications and Information Ministry says it should drive any attempts to establish an information and communication technology (ICT) culture in Indonesia.

"The culture of information and communication technology should be started from the ministry itself," said Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh during the opening of the ministry's three-day national coordination meeting on Monday.

The main purpose of the meeting is to establish a new policy for the ministry in its efforts to accelerate the national ICT development program in 2008.

The national program itself is aimed at developing a prosperous, civilized and knowledge-based information society that is synergic and integrated nationally.

Nuh said that in order to be a reliable hub for the program, there were three things the ministry should do.

"First, improve the quality of human and other resources. Second, enhance the value system, including good governance and innovation, that can support its tasks," he said.

"Third, eliminate all performance burdens, including incapable human resources."

The minister also emphasized the need to provide concrete suggestions for revamping regulations related to foreign or joint businesses in the ICT sector.

"Any improvement must embrace both economic and political views," he said.

He also said that 2008 was an important year because it would mark the beginning of preparations for the 2009 presidential election.

"The Communications and Information Ministry will hold a big responsibility in making the election successful."

Another speaker at the meeting, Dr. Made Suwandi from the Home Ministry, explained the importance of information and communication technology in the implementation of the central government's decentralization program.

"The role of information and communication technology is very important for Indonesia's administration reform efforts, and finally for its economic development," he said.

"Progress in structural reform, both bureaucratic and institutional, is needed for improving the investment climate in Indonesia.

"More specifically, information and communication technology development is also needed for encouraging the development of small and medium enterprises, reforming the financial sector, and also for making a success of the national poverty reduction program."

Another speaker, Alex Bambang Riatmodjo from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, said ICT had an important role to play in maintaining national security and defense, especially counterterrorism efforts. (uwi)