Jokowi taps Ma's guidance to make giant digital jump

Jakarta

IN a testament to the rising consumer potential of the world's No 6 emerging market, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has tapped for guidance the king of Chinese e-commerce: Jack Ma.

Jokowi, as Indonesia's leader is known, further intensified the buzz surrounding his country's US$2 billion e-commerce market with a stop at Jakarta's sprawling Mangga Dua bazaar last month, buying an iPad from a store belonging to Web retail giant Bhinneka.com.