Indonesian Presidential Frontrunners Partner With Saakuru Labs For Web3 Infrastructure

Indonesian presidential candidates Prabowo-Gibran have chosen to team up with Web3 infrastructure provider Saakuru Labs for their upcoming campaign. The collaboration is designed to introduce GenZ appeal to the campaign, using NFTs to educate and upskill Indonesia’s sizable young voting population on emerging technologies.

Prabowo Subianto is the current Indonesian Defense Minister, now running for president alongside his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of the current incumbent, in this year’s election. The Prabowo-Gibran campaign launches on February 14, which will also mark the kickoff of their “HILIRISASI DIGITAL” (Digital Downstreaming) program. The program is be accessed via an interactive online portal called “Konco Kulo Gibran: THE DUO.” The overall purpose of the initiative is to get young people involved in tech and provide educational opportunities.

A Strategic Initiative

The pair have opted to work with Saakuru Labs to support the program. The infrastructure provider, previously known as AAG, operates a gas fee-free Layer 2 that runs on the Oasys base layer. The partnership offers plenty of synergies since Saakuru Labs is supported by world-class EdTech partners, including Crypto Run, SingSing, Eng Breaking by GOGA, BitDegree, and ERM LABS.

Furthermore, the Digital Downstreaming program has strategic importance for Indonesia’s educational and social development since the Prabowo-Gibran campaign is launching it as part of the nation’s “Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.” which aims for the country to be sovereign, advanced, fair, and prosperous by the centennial of its independence in 2045.

In a jointly released statement, the candidates said: “Our partnership with Saakuru Labs is a clear demonstration of our commitment to integrating innovative technologies for a brighter, more technologically adept Indonesia, offering enhanced global work opportunities and a forward-looking perspective.”

Prabowo and Gilan have used NFT token gating on the Saakuru infrastructure to enable access to educational resources, thus increasing public understanding of Web3 technologies in a practical way. The pair also aim for the initiative to improve levels of proficiency in English, as well as demonstrate the capabilities of AI in the educational experience.

“Saakuru Labs is immensely proud to be selected by Prabowo & Gibran for this significant collaboration. It’s an honor to participate in this pivotal initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between Indonesia’s younger generation and the world of cutting-edge technology,” Nelly Sutjiadi, Chairwoman and Co-Founder of Saakuru Labs, said in a statement.

Governments Embracing Web3

While crypto regulation remains a thorny topic in some jurisdictions, governments are increasingly taking a softer stance towards Web3 technologies in recognition of the opportunities they offer in areas such as digital identity, asset tokenization, and use cases such as electoral votes. The government of Hong Kong established a Web3 Development Task Force last year, which was asked “to provide recommendations on the sustainable and responsible development of Web3 in Hong Kong,” according to an announcement.

The Chinese government reportedly also recently committed to developing and implementing blockchain technologies despite having previously issued near-complete bans on cryptocurrencies.

Prabowo and Gibran’s commitment to Web3 during the campaign phase bodes well for the industry’s future in Indonesia if their electoral bid leads to success in the polls.