THE EFFECT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) ON INDONESIAN BILATERAL TRADE WITH ASEAN COUNTRIES

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and trade have a relationship to support the achievement of market efficiency through cost reduction, increase promotion and distribution framework creation. This study aims to analyze the impacts of ICT Development on bilateral trade between Indonesia and its trading partners in the ASEAN countries. Using an extended panel gravity model framework and panel data models for the period 2010–2017 employing a random effect model estimator. The sample includes nine ASEAN member countries as Indonesia's trading partners. Results indicate that ICT Development has positive and significant impacts on Indonesian export volume toward ASEAN countries. Other variables such as Indonesian RGDP, partners' RGDP and population have a positive and significant effect on Indonesia export to ASEAN. Meanwhile, distance and real exchange rates have a negative and significant effect on Indonesian export. Based on estimation results, some policy implications can be derived. For instance, Indonesia may develop strategic trading partnerships with countries that have a large economic size and have achieved high levels of ICT development such as Singapore and Malaysia, in order to increase Indonesian trade volume to ASEAN countries, especially on ICT based products.