Melinda Gates with GO-JEK’s partner and talent in Bali, Indonesia. Photo copyright © Gates Archive.

Pathways for Prosperity Commission visits Indonesia to study role of digital technology to increase inclusion and prosperity

11 October 2018, Bali, Indonesia – Melinda Gates visited Indonesia this week as part of her work as Co-Chair of the Pathways for Prosperity Commission on Technology and Inclusive Development. During her visit, Gates toured GO-JEK’s operations in Bali, meeting driver partners, merchants and talents in an effort to understand the potential that digital technology has to improve livelihoods and build more inclusive economies. The Pathways for Prosperity Commission also met in Bali, alongside the IMF-World Bank Meetings from 12 to 14 October 2018, to discuss the policies and investments that are needed now to ensure more people around the world are able to seize the opportunities that are presented by technological innovation.

The Commission was launched in January 2018 by Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia’s Minister of Finance; and Strive Masiyiwa, founder and executive chairman of Econet. The Commission gathers diverse leaders from government, business and academia to drive a global conversation on how to maximise technological change to ensure inclusive development. It is due to release a report gathering its insights in 2019.

Nadiem Makarim, GO-JEK Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, a current commissioner of the initiative, said: “The GO-JEK experience in Indonesia is an example of how technology paves a pathway to access and inclusion – bringing those previously excluded into the new economy and providing them with the necessary tools to thrive.

“We were honoured to host Melinda Gates and the Pathways for Prosperity delegation to Indonesia and to have the opportunity to show our efforts in creating positive social impact and inclusive growth across Indonesia through our GO-JEK business model.

“The work of the commission is timely and critically important, and we are excited to be able to share our experiences in Indonesia with them.”

Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, added: “The commission is focused on identifying new pathways to prosperity in developing countries. My conversations with women working as GO-JEK drivers and GO-LIFE talents serve as a case study for how digital tools can help to increase growth and inclusion by connecting people to more stable employment and income.”