The President of FIACBI Asia Pacific stated that global competition has transformed from competition between nations to competition between technology-based cities.
According to him, world cities are no longer only competing by offering tax incentives and strategic geographic locations to attract investors, but are emphasizing the ability to build programmable systems—integrated ecosystems that unite energy, talent, capital, and data.
This was conveyed after conducting direct observations at two prestigious global forums: the Future Proptech Miami 2026 and the Silicon Valley Economic Forum 2026, which were recently held in the United States.
The Co-Founder of the Silicon Valley Proptech Association and Co-Founder of the Global Invest Forum noted that Miami and San Francisco are now living laboratories for this technology-based economic transformation.
The message from both forums is highly relevant for Indonesia in continuing its national development.
“Can Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Batam, Surabaya, and the Archipelago Capital become magnets for global artificial intelligence capital and talent?” he asked.
He explained that in this new paradigm, the winner is the city that can become a Quantum City—a city that combines light regulation, digital infrastructure, and fast permitting to attract mobile capital.
“Using this approach, Miami managed to boost its GDP from around US$166 billion in 2020 to US$240 billion in 2023,” he said.
He added that artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool, but has become the core of the value proposition in the property sector.
“In Miami, the Realtors association has integrated AI for auto-tagging, predictive maintenance, and energy dashboards. Properties are now sold not per square meter, but as platforms for AI and the digital economy,” he stated.
He also highlighted the data center and AI infrastructure sector, which has become the most sought-after asset in the regional area.
In ASEAN competition, Malaysia is said to be the leader in data center pipeline capacity, reaching 6 Gigawatts (GW), followed by Thailand at 3.5 GW, while Vietnam and the Philippines are also moving aggressively. Indonesia itself is projected to reach a capacity of around 900 Megawatts (MW) by the end of 2025.
Indonesia is described as a “giant waking up” because it has great potential in the digital economy and AI development. Citing 2025 data, internet users in Indonesia reach 230 million people, or about 80.5% penetration. Mobile subscribers number nearly 340 million, with smartphone penetration reaching 86%.
Furthermore, Indonesia’s digital economy is projected to exceed US$130 billion by 2026. The national AI adoption rate is also said to reach 92% and is expected to contribute significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to him, another strength for Indonesia is the plan to add 69.5 GW of electricity capacity by 2034, dominated by new and renewable energy, as well as the target of building 100 GW of solar power within the next five years.
To catch up with Malaysia’s data center capacity, Indonesia is advised to focus on three main pillars: integrated physical and digital infrastructure development, super fast track regulations for data centers, and downstreaming of AI talent.
He also encouraged the government to form a National Data Center Licensing Task Force to provide fiscal incentives, land easements, and guarantees for power purchase agreements directly with renewable energy electricity producers.
“Offer a One Stop Digital Permit, as other countries have done, so that Indonesia can win the competition in the ASEAN region,” he concluded.
The President of FIACBI Asia Pacific stated that global competition has now shifted from between nations to between technology and AI-based cities.
San Diego City Hall
San Diego City Hall
Future Proptech Miami 2026
Silicon Valley Economic Forum 2026
Miami
San Francisco
Jakarta
Batam
Surabaya
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