President Jokowi Attends Go-Viet Launching

President Jokowi attends Go-Viet Launching at Melia Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday (9/12). (Photo by: BPMI)

On the sideline of his state visit to Vietnam, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (9/12) attended the launching of Indonesian ride-hailing app Go-Jek in Vietnam, where Go-Jek is collaborating with a local team led by digital entrepreneur Nguyen Vu Duc under the brand Go-Viet.

President Jokowi congratulated Go-Jek on the expansion in Vietnam. “I would like to congratulate Go-Jek for the success in collaborating with Vietnam in becoming Go-Viet,” the President said.

The President added that the Indonesian Government will continue to support the access of technology from Indonesia to other ASEAN countries. “The access of technology here by our fellow countrymen proves that it could be accepted by other nations,” he said.

In the meantime, GoJek CEO Nadim Nadiem Makarim during the launching said that Go-Viet is developed specifically for Vietnam. “Go-Viet is not only to help users in Vietnam, but also to improve their partner’s welfare,” Said Nadiem (CEO of Go-Jek) in his speech.

Meanwhile, Go-Viet CEO Vu Duc said the company was expected to have four services — Go-Bike, Go-Car, Go-Food and e-wallet – early next year. “We are very impressed with Go-Jek’s influence and we share the same vision,” he said, adding that Go-Jek is Go-Viet’s strategic partner in terms of technological and financial matters.

For the record, the Indonesian startup unicorn announced it is ready to invest US$500 million to operate in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. On August 1 this year, Go-Viet launched a pilot operation in Ho Chi Minh City and since then, around 1.5 million have downloaded its application. Until Tuesday, Go-Viet has employed 25,000 drivers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Also attending the Go-Viet Launching event was Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartanto, Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara, Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Trikasih Lembong, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.  (BPMI/EN)(HYP/EP/Naster)