Kura-Kura Bali KEK to be catalyst for semiconductor industry

Bali (ANTARA) - The Kura-Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (KEK) will serve as a catalyst for developing the digital semiconductor industry ecosystem, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

He made these remarks during the "Shaping the Future Economy: AI & Semiconductor" event at the Kura-Kura Bali KEK in Denpasar on Sunday.

"I ask that Tsinghua University not only develop a youth center but also establish a campus for Indonesian youth," he said, referring to the Chinese university that launched the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center in Bali's special economic zone in 2022.

The training center will accommodate all stakeholders interested in learning, networking, developing capacity, and creating innovative solutions to contribute directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hartarto expressed hope that the training center will strengthen Indonesia's digital ecosystem, especially in the development of the semiconductor sector. This is the first time that stakeholders from the government, academia, and industry have collaborated to enhance and deepen the digital economy, he added.

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Hartarto stated that the development of the digital economy includes semiconductors, which are key to artificial intelligence (AI).

"The value of our digital economy today is around US$82 billion, and it is expected to increase to US$300 billion by 2030. This figure will continue to double if ASEAN countries implement the Digital Economy Framework Agreement," he said.

Hartarto noted that Indonesia is home to over 2,600 startups, with 15 startup companies valued at around US$10 billion and two companies exceeding US$10 billion.