Google continues its focus on Indonesia with the launch of a local Chrome Web store

Google is continuing its efforts to ramp up its services in Indonesia with the introduction of a local Chrome Web store to the country featuring creations from local developers, according to a report from Daily Social.

So far this year, the company has dedicated significant effort to increasing its services in Southeast Asia’s largest country. On the back of last week’s news that it appointed Rudy Ramawy as its new country head in Indonesia, a move the company is yet to confirm, it is giving Indonesian Chrome users their own apps as it bids to increase its market share.

Currently the Indonesian Chrome Web store is available in English only but, nonetheless, it gives Indonesia developers a more simplified method for generating revenue from Chrome. Rather than needing to go through international channels, local developers can build, market and make revenue by going direct to local users.

In the announcement launching the store, Google explains that developers can also target international users:

For Indonesian developers, the launch of the Chrome Web Store in Indonesia means they’ll be able to easily build and distribute their apps to the more than 200 million people around the world who already use Chrome.

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The store contains a number of popular international favourites — like Angry Birds, Evernote, Google Docs and others — while local creations are present too, including breaking news app Kompas Editor’s Choice, gossip service KapanLagi, the Prambors radio app and Blibli’s gift finder app.

Google says that the launch will “help Indonesian Chrome users find the best apps” in the store, which also includes extensions and themes for its browser.

The Mountain View-headquartered company launched a local version of Chrome in Indonesia in September, but the country is a tough challenge as Firefox is the overwhelming choice of Web users there.

As of October 2011, the Mozilla-owned browser had 76 percent of the market, putting it streets ahead of Chrome’s 16 percent share. However, with Google ramping up its presence the country it will look to increase its usage, and a local Web store is one feature that could widen its appeal.