REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with experts from the Center for Digital Society Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a joint study on the future of digital diplomacy for Indonesia.

More than 30 experts in diplomacy and information communication technology, as well as 100 observers, consultants, academics, and foreign diplomats, participated in the 'Experts Meeting on Diplomacy', which was held in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Wednesday.

"We want to receive inputs and suggestions on how we should engage in digital diplomacy," Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir said at a press conference.

Diplomacy must be able to answer the digital challenges because our current digital world has changed the participants, as well as encouraged the spirit of transparency.

Therefore, current diplomacy should seize the space of public information and provide information quickly, accurately and correctly.

In the digital era where every person is connected to the social media, all activities on social media must represent the common interests in economic diplomacy, protection of the sovereignty, as well as the role of Indonesia at the international level.

"Currently, many actors are involved in foreign relations. Therefore, we expect that all of them do it not only for their personal interests, but also to be in line with government policies," Fachir noted.

UGM's vice rector for planning, finance and information system Didi Achjari said that the university could contribute in giving some perspective and insight on information technology, not only on the technical but also the social aspects.

"We also want suggestions on how the Foreign Ministry can make use of big data analytics to determine the current trending topic," he remarked.

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