Indonesia Invites Huawei and ByteDance to Expand AI Investments

The Indonesian government is actively seeking to boost investments in artificial intelligence (AI) from Chinese tech giants Huawei and ByteDance. This initiative aims to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure, AI talent, and research centers within the country. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto conveyed this commitment during meetings with the leadership of Huawei and ByteDance in Shanghai on Friday (17/7). The meetings took place on the sidelines of his working visit to attend the signing of the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). Discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in AI, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, human resource development, and technology investment. In his discussions with Huawei, Minister Airlangga proposed cooperation in four key areas: investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, strengthening digital talent and cybersecurity, accelerating the digitization of government and SMEs, and the application of green energy for data centers. "After Indonesia officially became one of the founding countries of WAICO, we want to ensure a leap in technological cooperation. Huawei, with its capabilities in the fields of AI, telecommunications infrastructure, and cloud computing, is a potential strategic partner to support national digital transformation," Airlangga stated. Meanwhile, addressing ByteDance, Minister Airlangga acknowledged the company's investment through TikTok Shop and Tokopedia, recognizing their contribution to strengthening Indonesia's digital trade ecosystem. The government expressed its desire to expand collaboration to facilitate Indonesian MSME products in penetrating international markets more easily through digital platforms. Furthermore, ByteDance was invited to develop cooperation in the field of AI, including large language models (LLM), machine learning, and generative AI. "Indonesia has a large digital market, a growing digital talent, and a strong commitment to building an inclusive AI ecosystem. We invite ByteDance to explore opportunities for the establishment of an AI research center, the development of digital talent, and innovation collaboration that benefits both countries," Airlangga added. Huawei is recognized for its operations in telecommunications infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI. ByteDance is known for developing global digital platforms such as TikTok, CapCut, Lark, Toutiao, and Douyin. These engagements are part of the government's broader strategy to attract high-value, technology-driven investments, with the expectation of accelerating technology transfer, enhancing the competitiveness of the national digital economy, and expanding the AI ecosystem in Indonesia. Information Source: VOI English