Why Indonesia’s Digital Economy Is Growing, But Not Equally
By Sachin V. Gopalan Indonesia’s digital economy is often described in superlatives. Fast-growing. Dynamic. Full of potential. And all of that is true. But beneath the impressive growth numbers lies a more uneven reality, one that deserves closer attention. Growth, by itself, does not guarantee inclusion. The expansion of e-commerce, digital payments, and online services […]
Sachin Gopalan Speaks at UICI PMB Webinar, Highlights Open Digital Networks as the Future of Digital Commerce
Jakarta (Indonesia Economic Forum) — CEO of the Indonesia Economic Forum, Sachin V. Gopalan, was the keynote speaker at the Universitas Insan Cita Indonesia (UICI) New Student Admission (PMB) Batch 11 webinar titled Democratizing Commerce Through Open Digital Networks. During the session, he emphasized the importance of transitioning toward a more open, inclusive, and sustainable […]
Indonesia’s Engineered Financial Shock of 2026: What Rating Agencies Could Learn from Indonesia’s Systemic Transformation
by Satish Chandra Mishra – Arthashastra Institute Indonesia A Glass More Full than Empty Indonesians have long been prone to a peculiar form of self-doubt. Confronted with evidence of genuine and remarkable progress, many still instinctively veer toward pessimism — as though the sheer scale of national transformation makes its success highly implausible. Large-scale historical transitions […]
Hidden Shockwaves: What the US–Iran War Really Means for Indonesia’s Economy
By Sachin V Gopalan, Indonesia Economic Forum 19 March 2026, Jakarta, Indonesia “When global policy changes, it is not the architects at the top who feel it first, but the millions at the base who live its consequences daily.” When conflicts erupt in the Middle East, Indonesia is often seen as a distant observer. The […]
Indonesia and India Strengthen Cooperation to Restore Prambanan Temple Complex
JAKARTA (Indonesia Economic Forum) — Indonesia and India are strengthening cooperation in cultural heritage preservation through plans to restore the Prambanan Temple complex. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and a restoration team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Ministry of Education and Culture […]
IEF 2026: Logistics as the Backbone of Digital Trade
JAKARTA — IEF Talks Panel 2 titled “Delivering Digital Commerce: The Logistics Layer” took place at ARTOTEL Suites Mangkuluhur, Jakarta, discussing how logistics must transform to support a digital ecosystem built on ION. Without strong logistics, e-commerce is ineffective The keynote was delivered by Ratnesh Verma (Founder & CEO, PIDGE). “Digital commerce is only as […]
IEF 2026: Open Network as the New Engine of Inclusive Financial Services
JAKARTA — IEF Talks Panel 1 titled “The Open Network: Powering Financial Services” was held on the first day of the 12th Indonesia Economic Forum (IEF) at ARTOTEL Suites Mangkuluhur, Jakarta, on Wednesday (5/2/2026). The discussion highlighted how the Indonesia Open Network (ION) could transform the digital financial services landscape to become more open, competitive, […]
“The Art of Omong Kosong” Book Launch Explores Office Politics as a Survival Skill
JAKARTA — The book The Art of Omong Kosong: Office Politics, the Secrets of Career and Business Success was officially launched at a public discussion held at Gramedia Jalma, Jakarta, on Saturday (January 17, 2026). The event featured the book’s author, Hasto Suprayogo, alongside Sachin Vijaya Gopalan, Founder and CEO of the Indonesia Economic Forum, […]
Perfios Defends Indonesia’s Banks from the Next Wave of Financial Fraud
Jakarta — Indonesia is facing the largest wave of digital fraud and scams in its history. The latest data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Indonesia Anti Scam Center (IASC) shows that the country now ranks as the most vulnerable in the world for financial scam reports. To address the growing threat, OJK […]
Indonesia SEZ Business Forum 2025 Strengthens Global Investment Appeal of 25 Special Economic Zones
JAKARTA – The National Council for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) hosted the Indonesia SEZ Business Forum 2025 on Tuesday in Jakarta as part of a strategic national effort to enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesia’s 25 SEZs and attract international investment. The forum recorded strong participation with 737 attendees, comprising 439 onsite participants and 298 […]