Indonesia Joins China-Led Global AI Organization

Indonesia has officially joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), an international body focused on AI collaboration, during a conference in Shanghai, China. The signing ceremony included representatives from approximately 30 nations, signaling a global effort to shape the future of artificial intelligence. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized Indonesia's commitment to fostering inclusive and responsible AI development that benefits all. "We are participating so that AI development is inclusive and responsible, providing mutual benefits," he stated during a hybrid press conference on Friday, July 17, 2026. This participation aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's directive for Indonesia to actively engage in AI governance. Indonesia's decision to join WAICO stems from its concern for AI's development, advocating for it to be inclusive, secure, ethical, and free from monopolization by any single power. By becoming a founding member, Indonesia secures a strategic advantage, gaining first access to all discussions regarding AI's evolution and policy directions. This early involvement allows Indonesia to contribute significantly to formulating the organization's policies and institutional structures. The government has assured that all collaborations and technical alignments through WAICO will adhere to national regulations and interests, ethical AI principles, data sovereignty, and Indonesia's existing strategic economic cooperation commitments. As a follow-up, Indonesia plans to enhance inter-ministerial coordination to optimize WAICO's platform for digital transformation acceleration. Efforts will also focus on strengthening domestic data center infrastructure, improving AI human resource competitiveness, and fostering international collaborations that add significant value to economic growth. Besides Indonesia, other founding members of WAICO include Algeria, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and China.

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We are participating so that AI development is inclusive and responsible, providing mutual benefits.