Singapore-Indonesia programme to boost cross-border tech opportunities

More than 10 companies are part of the pilot programme, which will be fully rolled out in Q1 2025.

The governments of Singapore and Indonesia have launched the Tech:X Programme which aims to help young technology professionals and businesses to access more growth opportunities.

The pilot implementation was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the recent Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat. Tech:X Programme was first announced on 16 March 2023 when Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto signed a memorandum of understanding.

According to authorities, the programme will allow young professionals from Singapore and Indonesia to work in each other’s countries. This will deepen both countries’ tech ecosystems and allow the young experts to gain overseas work experience and pursue growing opportunities in the digital economy. 

Through Tech:X Programme, new graduates will be able to pursue short-term, tech-related job opportunities in each other’s countries for up to one year. Over 10 companies and organisations are part of the pilot implementation, including GovTech’s Open Government Products team, data analytics consultancy Handshakes, biotech company MiRXES, AI start-up Aicadium, and real estate developer Pontiac Land Group. 

The full implementation will be by Q1 2025, for participation by up to 1,000 young graduates from each country. More companies are expected to come on board subsequently. 

The partnership is also seen to benefit businesses by accessing a wider pool of young professionals and facilitating the rotation or transfer of high-potential employees between their Singapore and Indonesia offices.

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Singapore has strong trade and investment ties with Indonesia, with the latter being the city-state’s  6th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $69b in 2023. Singapore has also been a top source of foreign direct investment for Indonesia since 2014.

Companies in both countries are also strengthening their partnerships, especially in the areas of renewable energy and healthcare.