Jakarta – PT Indonesia Open Network (ION) has been officially established as a company that will develop digital public infrastructure (DPI) to support digital commerce, expand market access, and enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The establishment of PT ION was marked by the signing of its deed of incorporation by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PT Chairos International Ventures, Sachin Gopalan, and Chairman of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation, Ronald Walla, along with Secretary of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation, Rudolf Saut Butarbutar, at the APINDO Office in Jakarta on Friday (September 4, 2026).

President Director of PT ION, Dr. Bayu Prawira Hie, said the establishment of the legal entity marks an important milestone, as ION’s activities will encompass commercial operations, business partnerships, investment, and technology development.

“Today marks the signing of the deed of incorporation of PT Indonesia Open Network. With the establishment of PT ION, we now have a legal entity that can carry out various business activities while ensuring accountability to shareholders who are investing in building Indonesia,” Bayu said in an official statement on Friday (September 4, 2026).

PT ION has an authorized capital of IDR 10 billion, with issued and paid-up capital of IDR 2.5 billion. The company has issued 2,500,001 shares, consisting of 2.5 million Series A shares temporarily held by PT Chairos International Ventures and one special share, or golden share, held by the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation. The 2.5 million Series A shares are intended to be transferred to new investors, while the golden share is designed to safeguard the company’s vision and mission and ensure that it remains oriented toward the public interest.

Following the completion of its legal establishment, PT ION will develop its organizational structure, finalize agreements with partners, and continue pilot projects that have already been initiated. The company is targeting approximately US$100 million in initial investment from at least 20 companies, with each contributing around US$5 million. The structure is designed to ensure that no single shareholder can control or dominate the company.

Bayu said the response from prospective partners and investors to the ION concept has so far been positive. The infrastructure is considered capable of helping businesses overcome various barriers, particularly in market access, technology, and marketing.

“We invite various stakeholders to work together to build ION for the benefit of MSMEs and the advancement of Indonesia’s economy. This is not a startup established merely to maximize profits, but rather a digital public infrastructure developed for the common good,” he said.

CEO of PT Chairos International Ventures, Sachin Gopalan, said PT ION was established as an investment vehicle for various stakeholders, both domestic and international. However, domestic investors will be the primary focus, as ION is designed to serve as a strategic Indonesian asset.

“ION will become public infrastructure that can be used by the public to conduct digital commerce while providing various tools to enable Indonesian companies to strengthen their digital capabilities,” Sachin said.

According to Sachin, ION’s ownership structure will be built on the principle of broad-based and balanced shared ownership. Shareholders are expected to come from various sectors, including the government or state-owned enterprises, banking, manufacturing, and technology companies. Several technology companies have also expressed interest, including Google, which provided a US$1.5 million grant through an incubation program.

ION’s open-network concept is adapted from the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), developed in India. Similar models are also being prepared for development in Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil. The ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation does not serve as an investment vehicle, but rather as a mission guardian tasked with ensuring that the company remains aligned with its original mandate as digital public infrastructure.

“In a company with many shareholders, each party may bring its own interests. Therefore, there must be a neutral party to ensure that PT ION remains within the mandate that has been established. That is the role of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation,” he said.

In its initial stage, ION will focus on helping MSMEs gain market access and strengthen their digital commerce capabilities. The infrastructure can subsequently be expanded to support farmers, cooperatives, communities, and other economic sectors.

Chairman of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation and President Director of PT Wismilak Inti Makmur Tbk (WIIM), Ronald Walla, said ION has also developed applications for buyers and sellers and established collaborations with Indomaret and the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

“When MSMEs grow, the industries and services that support them will also grow. The impact can extend across agriculture, industrialization, and the services sector. Therefore, we will continue to advance ION so that it can make a tangible contribution to Indonesia,” Ronald said.

Legally, PT ION was only established on September 4, 2026, but a soft launch was held on February 5, 2026. The launch was led by Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria and attended by Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Maman Abdurrahman. ION is not a new marketplace like Tokopedia or Shopee, but rather an open network that connects buyer and seller applications, logistics, payments, technology, and other supporting services.

The establishment of ION is considered strategic given that Indonesia has approximately 64.2 million MSMEs. The open network is expected to lower transaction costs, expand market opportunities, and facilitate access to payments, logistics, financing, and technology. Government support has also strengthened following an agreement between President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance digital economic cooperation through DPI during Modi’s state visit to Indonesia on July 7, 2026.

In the official document issued following the visit, ION was cited as one of the key outcomes of the meeting and is being developed based on the ONDC architecture. ONDC itself is an open network that enables various applications and service providers to conduct transactions using common standards.

The network has recorded more than 500 million cumulative transactions, involving more than 760,000 sellers and service providers across more than 1,200 cities and regions in India. This vision serves as the foundation for ION’s efforts to democratize digital commerce, broaden competition, and create a more inclusive digital economy ecosystem for Indonesia’s MSMEs.