Indonesia has gained an early role in a new global artificial intelligence body, creating an opening to shape international discussions on AI governance. The country is among the 29 founding members of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO.
That founding status places Indonesia in discussions that extend beyond technology adoption alone. It also creates opportunities connected to research, investment, digital economic growth, human-resource development, and access to AI technology.
What WAICO Is Expected to Address
WAICO was established to promote global AI innovation that is open, inclusive, and responsible. Its stated aim is to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence can be shared by countries around the world.
The organization is expected to facilitate cooperation on skills development and broader access to AI technologies. It will also provide a forum for countries to coordinate AI development strategies and discuss international ethics.
For Indonesia, participation offers a channel to align domestic AI governance with international practices while maintaining national digital-development priorities. The scope of future WAICO work will affect how widely member states can access capacity building, technology development, and policy coordination.
Indonesia Joins 29 Founding Countries
The WAICO founding agreement was signed in Shanghai, China, on July 16, 2026. Indonesia’s delegation was led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Angga Raka Prabowo.
| Event | Date | Location | Indonesia’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAICO founding agreement signing | July 16, 2026 | Shanghai, China | Delegation led by Airlangga Hartarto |
| Informal WAICO preparatory session | July 17, 2026 | Not stated | Delegation led by Angga Raka Prabowo |
Other founding countries include China, Brazil, Russia, Malaysia, South Africa, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Zambia. A number of other developing countries are also part of WAICO’s founding group.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres attended the signing ceremony. WAICO has been designed as an independent, non-profit intergovernmental institution within the United Nations framework.
From Founding Agreement to Operational Agenda
Indonesia’s next scheduled step was the Informal Preparatory Session on the Establishment of WAICO on July 17, 2026. The meeting was intended to discuss the organization’s operational steps and possible AI cooperation among participating countries.
Angga Raka Prabowo led the Indonesian delegation at that preparatory session. The forum marked an early stage for founding countries to turn WAICO’s broad objectives into a more concrete cooperation agenda.
The government sees the organization as a potential catalyst for high-value technology sectors that could become new sources of national growth. Cross-border cooperation may support the development of Indonesia’s research and innovation ecosystem alongside investment in digital industries.
According to a press release cited by inet.detik.com on July 18, 2026, Angga described Indonesia’s participation as an important policy moment. He said it could strengthen the country’s AI governance while widening international collaboration.
“Indonesia’s participation in WAICO is a strategic momentum to strengthen national AI governance in line with international best practices, while opening space for cross-country collaboration in the development of an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem,” Angga said.
WAICO’s subsequent agenda will show how its founding members translate shared principles into practical access, coordination, and capacity-building programs. Indonesia’s presence from the organization’s first stage gives it an opportunity to contribute to that process.
Source: inet.detik.com
