Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform and Russia have initiated talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation on digital government transformation to improve public services and governance.Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini said the meeting marked a key step toward enhancing public sector capacity and service delivery in both countries, following a courtesy call by the Russian ambassador in Jakarta on Wednesday.Rini said Indonesia sees broader opportunities to collaborate with Russia, particularly in exchanging expertise on digital governance platforms and improving interoperability among government institutions.“We are focusing on digital transformation. Given global challenges, governments must transform not only public services but also governance systems,” she said.The minister highlighted Russia’s strong track record in public administration, including through the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), which could serve as a learning platform for Indonesian officials.She added that Indonesian civil servants are increasingly required to develop strategic and empathetic leadership, alongside technical skills such as data-driven policymaking and analytical capabilities to adapt to digital transformation.Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov said Moscow is ready to support Indonesia through capacity building, training programs, and talent development initiatives for its bureaucrats.”We are prepared to provide courses for Indonesian officials as part of this effort,” Tolchenov said.He noted that Russia has made significant progress in digital government, with citizens widely using integrated platforms for services such as bill payments, medical appointments, document applications, and even voting.Tolchenov also expressed support for Indonesia’s focus on human resource development, public sector governance, and digital transformation, adding that RANEPA could share best practices in these areas.The initiative reflects growing cooperation between Indonesia and Russia in addressing increasingly complex governance challenges through technology-driven public sector reforms. ​​​​​​​