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In focus
- Nadiem Makarim’s trial raises fears of a chilling effect on the tech industry
- BDx Indonesia secures 1.2 gigawatts as AI data center race heats up
- Grab is not exiting Indonesia
Hello reader,
Nadiem Makarim is awaiting the verdict after delivering his closing defense in his corruption trial on Tuesday. All eyes are on the case – not just those of the tech community – given his status as Gojek’s founder.
Many Indonesians view Makarim as someone who helped create millions of jobs through the ride-hailing platform. Today, Gojek has more than 3.1 million drivers on the road.
However, the corruption allegations leveled against him could land him behind bars.
And Makarim may not be the only one. Several former executives of state-owned VC firms are also facing prison sentences over failed investments in agritech startup TaniHub.
Today’s top story examines how these cases could affect Indonesia’s tech sector. Investors may think twice about putting money into a country where the legal environment is seen as uncertain, while professionals may become more hesitant to work with the government.
Also in today’s newsletter, my colleague Scott spoke with Agus Hartono Wijaya, CEO of BDx Indonesia, about the company’s agreement with state utility firm PLN to secure 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity.
The agreement brings attention to Indonesia’s renewable energy ambitions and concerns over water consumption amid the rise of AI facilities in the country.
Indonesia’s tech sector has rarely had a quiet week lately. Most recently, rumors have circulated that Grab is considering scaling back or even exiting the country.
The speculation emerged after the government moved to require ride-hailing platforms to reduce their commission fees from 20% to 8%. I take a closer look in the Spotlight below.
Jofie Yordan, journalist
Top Stories
1️⃣ The Nadiem effect on investors, talent, and Indonesia
Spotlight
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