In her keynote at the inaugural Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) on 21 October 2020, Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati noted how technology has helped Southeast Asia's most populous country soften the blow from COVID-19, and cited challenges including the need to bridge the digital divide. 

She said policies must be put in place to ensure Indonesia and other countries can reap the benefits of new technologies while anticipating any associated risks. "It is crucial that we have sound information based on robust research. This will enable us to understand the impact of new technologies and to devise and implement [appropriate] policies. Our policy making must be based on solid knowledge and forecast that help us identify opportunities and investments that can spur growth.”