Indonesia to Establish National Data Agency, Bill Under Review

The Indonesian government has initiated deliberations on a bill (RUU SDI) to establish a National Data Agency (Badan Satu Data Indonesia). This bill aims to reform the country's data management system and facilitate information sharing among government institutions. Currently, each ministry, agency, and local government in Indonesia holds and manages its own data, leading to issues of duplication, inconsistency, and delays in sharing, which reportedly impact the quality of administrative services and the efficiency of policy-making. The establishment of the National Data Agency is intended to overcome these challenges and achieve faster, more accurate policy decisions and improved public services. Specifically, the plan involves building a unified data platform accessible to the entire government, ensuring data standardization, quality control, and security. This is expected to enable the digitalization of administrative procedures and the development of policies tailored to the needs of individual citizens. Deliberations on the bill have just begun, and the specific organizational structure, powers, and operational methods of the agency will be determined through subsequent discussions in the national legislature. This move is considered a significant step in promoting digital transformation (DX) in Indonesia.