Open Hannover Messe 2021, Jokowi Invites Chancellor Merkel To Realize Technological Transformation

President Joko Widodo at the opening of Hannover Messe 2021. (Photo: Screenshot of Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the Hannover Messe 2021 event virtually together with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In his speech, the Head of State mentioned that this event is a great opportunity for Indonesia to be able to push the economy faster as well as an event for various national companies to exchange information related to the use of the latest technology.

"Indonesia's digital economy and Industry 4.0 are the fastest in Southeast Asia. We have 2,193 startups, the fifth largest in the world. Indonesia also has five unicorn companies and one decacorn," he said virtually, Monday, April 12.

The president added that the goal of arousing the passion of the digital economy is both a necessity and an inevitability. Because, the economic sector by utilizing digital media is believed to contribute significantly in the future.

"Going forward, this industry will contribute to Indonesia's GDP (gross domestic product) of USD133 billion by 2025," he said.

"Supported by 185 million people who have internet access, the 4th largest in the world, we believe the advancement of industry 4.0 will make Indonesia the top 10 global economic power by 2030," he continued.

Through the appointment of Indonesia as the official partner of the country for the second time in this event, the President hopes that the cooperation that is built between Indonesia and Germany will be closer and continue until the future.

"I would like to invite Germany to partner to realize digital transformation in Indonesia," said President Jokowi.

For information, Hannover Messe is the world's largest trade show for industrial technology, with a tradition that has been running for more than 72 years.

Each year, Hannover Messe has an average of 225,000 visitors who are level leaders from companies around the world. In addition, 2500 journalists from 51 countries were covered. This event is also the ideal place for Indonesia to receive technology transfers from various countries.

Indonesia was the first country in Asia Tengagra to get the opportunity as an official country partner at Hannover Messe.

Each year, one country is selected to serve as Hannover Messe's country partner, including India (2015), the United States (2016), Poland (2017), Mexico (2018), and Sweden (2019).

It is said that Indonesia will display as many as 156 exhibitors. Of these, the largest contribution of exhibitors came from snapper-scale corporations as many as 65 companies, start-ups 63 companies, state-owned enterprises 14 companies, as well as eight industrial estates, and four ministries / institutions, as well as two industry associations.

Among the 156 exhibitors, 93 were new applicants and 63 registered for Hannover Messe 2020.