Kawarang: Indonesia’s digital paradise for expats
Karawang, an Indonesian city located 52 km east of Jakarta, is in pursuit of becoming the ‘city of the future’ with the development of the Pollux Technopolis R&D Hub. The rise of technopreneurs, in conjunction with the economy’s growth, are presenting Indonesia as the futuristic destination for expats.
Karawang is a prime illustration of the new, fast-emerging centres and industrial hubs evolving in Indonesia recently. This cutting-edge technological city is now hosting 40 percent of Indonesia’s manufacturing exports, including blue-chip companies located in its surroundings, and it’s certainly an integral statement of intent for Indonesia’s target to become a top five global economy in technology and innovation by 2050.
Cities around the world are reshaping and restructuring themselves with the implementation of innovative technologies (e.g. robotics, big data analytics and AI), as well as changing the way human beings live. Our environment is becoming smarter, greener and more sustainable, and technopreneurs are playing an important role in it.
The fact that Indonesia’s Internet usage is growing by 19 percent annually (according to a recent study conducted by Temasek Holdings and Google), a middle-class with a higher expenditure range is evolving and smartphone users are increasing in number at a high rocketing pace, generating the right conditions for technopreneurs to launch their own businesses online.
Since the Indonesian government is relaxing its policies by allowing full foreign ownership of ecommerce businesses, expat entrepreneurs can pursue their goal of setting up their own companies (focused in areas such as e-commerce platforms, financial technology, media and entertainment, advertising technologies, and payment systems among others). Additionally, as most start-ups and SMEs often have a lack of financing in Indonesia, e
Expat investors have the chance to invest in them with great prospects of profits and success.
Since more and more foreign companies are moving to Indonesia in search of a cheaper workforce and key business expansions in Asian markets, expat talents and professionals are able to find new job opportunities in the archipelago as well.
Karawang is an Indonesia’s example of a new generation of living style and an image of a fast-growing economy. As this city starts to visualise its development in infrastructure, transportation (connecting the city to Jakarta and Bandung), technology and innovation, business and job opportunities for locals and expats are flourishing in the area.
With this in mind, expats, particularly working in technology or technopreneurs, should positively consider the idea of adding Indonesia to the list of destinations where they can achieve their professional goals.