REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- If different parties such as governments, corporates and communities work in partnership, it can open digital business opportunities for people in rural areas where supporting infrastructure is less than adequate.

"Indonesia has particular challenges in digital business. The vast area and a high level of urbanization are unique to Indonesia," the Regional Head of Commercial Payment at MasterCard Asia Pacific, Philip Glickman, said here on Thursday.

He said the existing digital technology should be utilized by all sections of society in rural areas.

"Reaching people in rural areas requires massive expenditure, besides the high risk of failure in terms of technical equipment and monetary losses," he explained.

Therefore, according to him, various parties can work together and share the cost, thus reducing the risk to which any one party will be vulnerable.

"Sharing costs and risks through such partnership by several parties allows the implementation and utilization of digital technology in remote areas," Philip said.

According to him, Indonesia is a wonderful market because it has a large population of young people, abundant natural resources and is one of the fast growing economies at regional and global levels.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises, he added, are strong sectors driving Indonesian economy.

Data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs showed that there were 57,895,721 micro, small, and medium enterprise units in 2013, and these had absorbed 114,144,082 workers.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika