Anang Zakaria, Denpasar – The Minister for State Enterprises Sofyan Djalil said that internet users in Indonesia reached 13 million people. This makes Indonesia the big 13 internet users in the world. However, 70 percent of the users are in large cities. "The computer use as one way to access information is still very low," he said in Bali, Tuesday (28/8).

The minister said this in his speech opening the summit for Ministers of Telecommunication and Information Technology for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jimbaran, Bali. The meeting aims to intensify cooperation in spreading information technology among Southeast Asian Nations.

Sofyan Djalil said the equal spread of information technology in every Southeast Asian Nation is expected to stimulate technology growth and the economic competitive power in the region.

Technology development in Southeast Asian Nations, he said, has been growing slowly. However, several efforts have been made such as improving the network for internet and banking access. "The high-speed telecommunication access should be ASEAN's priority," he said.

The Director for International Relationship at the Communication and Information Ministry Ikhsan Baidirus said there has been a technology gap between city and rural areas. Around 40,000 villages in Indonesia do not have proper communication facilities. He expected the summit will find a way to make it equal in the Southeast Asian Nations including Indonesia.