On November 13, the U.S. and Indonesia announced a new era of bilateral relations with a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In a joint statement U.S. President Joe Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo reaffirmed the importance of innovation-driven, inclusive economic growth as a core pillar of bilateral efforts to improve both nations’ welfare. Investment and collaboration on digital sector issues, including semiconductors, digital connectivity, and cybersecurity, were emphasized as key to achieving these advancements.
The two countries announced intentions to partner to create a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain, beginning with a review of Indonesia’s current semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, workforce, and infrastructure. The U.S. will also partner with industry associations to lead U.S. semiconductor company trade delegations to Indonesia.
Similar commitments were made in the realm of digital connectivity. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will support a grant for Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO) to assess the commercial and technical viability of deploying open radio access network (Open RAN) technology to increase connectivity for unserved villages across rural Indonesia. The countries plan to announce an upgrade in bilateral cybersecurity cooperation through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on countering threats from malicious state and non-state actors while also creating a conducive environment for leading technology, energy, and financial firms in Indonesia.
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