President Jokowi unveils INA Digital to simlify govt bureaucracy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) unveiled Indonesia's government technology (GovTech) platform named INA Digital at a launch ceremony in the State Palace here on Monday.

The president emphasized that INA Digital, a digital-based integrated platform of government services, including the national portal and infrastructure-related services, is essential to simplify government bureaucracy and improve Indonesia's competitiveness at the global level.

"We need to strengthen our digital public infrastructure --a kind of 'toll road' for our public service digitization. We also need to strengthen our GovTech through one integrated portal named INA Digital," Jokowi stated.

The president remarked that INA Digital reflected the government's commitment to realizing easy and accessible bureaucracy instead of burdening the people.

"Our indicator ought to be the satisfaction, benefits, and ease of access enjoyed by the residents," he affirmed.

He highlighted that a certain ministry has more than 500 different online applications while drawing attention to the trend that new online platforms were developed every time a new minister, governor, or regional office head took office.

Hence, the public service digital platform is seeking to integrate up to 27 thousand distinct applications or online platforms developed by government ministries, agencies, and regional governments, the president said.

"From this year, stop creating new applications, stop creating new platforms. Stop it!" he said.

The integration of public services to the INA Digital platform will also help the government economize up to Rp6.2 trillion (US$388.11 million) budget earlier allocated for new online application development, he explained.

"We are always orientated to new projects. We need to put a halt to this, and it should not happen again," Jokowi emphasized.

After the INA Digital launch, the government will integrate thousands of online applications operated by ministries and agencies. The government targets the interoperability of public services through INA Digital to be achieved by September 2024.