By: Ananda Putera
The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering the growth of the creative economy as a key pillar of national development. The creative economy is not only a rapidly expanding sector but also plays a strategic role in job creation, increasing foreign exchange earnings, and enhancing Indonesia’s global competitiveness. This commitment is reinforced by various policymakers who recognize the vast potential of the creative economy in achieving ambitious economic growth targets.
Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas), emphasized the importance of empowering young generations through the creative economy as part of the national strategy. According to him, this sector plays a central role in fostering innovation and generating new job opportunities. Ibas also highlighted how the creative economy has evolved since the blueprint introduced during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration, now contributing significantly to Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Its contribution has risen sharply from IDR 500 trillion to IDR 1,400 trillion, employing 27 million workers, making the creative economy a new growth engine for the nation.
Furthermore, Ibas stressed the need for a mindset shift among young people. He urged them to move away from the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) mentality, which often leads to fleeting trends, and instead adopt a focused approach in mastering a single field. With this strategy, creative economy players are expected to become experts in their respective fields and drive sustainable innovation.
Meanwhile, Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Menekraf/Kabekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to boost the e-commerce industry. During a meeting with the Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA), Minister Riefky stated that developing creative economy subsectors, particularly digital-based ones, could position Indonesia as the largest digital economy hub in the region. With a target of integrating 30 million MSMEs into the e-commerce ecosystem by 2025, the government is actively formulating policies and regulations to support the industry’s growth.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, proposed the establishment of a National Creative Product Shopping Day. This initiative aims to increase the visibility of local products and encourage domestic consumer spending. Additionally, the government supports various education and training programs for MSMEs to enhance their competitiveness in the digital market. These efforts align with the government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable creative economy ecosystem.
Beyond e-commerce, other creative economy sectors, such as the gaming industry, are also receiving significant government attention. In a meeting with representatives from Bukalapak, Deputy Minister Irene Umar discussed potential collaborations to develop the national gaming industry. One concrete proposal was the offline activation of gaming initiatives through the Mitra Bukalapak program to enhance brand awareness in the gaming sector. The government is also working to address challenges in this industry, including payment system issues and regulatory frameworks that need to be more adaptive to the needs of the digital industry.
Collaboration between the government and the private sector in the creative economy is expected to accelerate the industry’s growth and strengthen Indonesia’s global competitiveness. With support from various stakeholders, the creative economy can serve as a key driver in achieving national economic growth targets. Moving forward, adaptive and innovative policies are required to ensure continuous growth and widespread benefits for society.
The government must also ensure that the creative economy not only contributes to economic growth but also strengthens national identity and cultural heritage. As Ibas pointed out, within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), the creative economy should serve as a platform to showcase Indonesian culture globally while embodying national values and diversity. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which position the creative economy as a key factor in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
Supporting the creative economy can also be achieved by expanding market access for Indonesian creative products. Programs such as MSME digitalization, access to global platforms, and extensive promotion of local products will help entrepreneurs enhance their competitiveness. Additionally, incentives for innovation and workforce training in the creative economy sector must be continuously strengthened to ensure that Indonesia becomes not only a consumer but also a high-quality producer on the international stage.
With the strategic initiatives already in place, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to establish the creative economy as a major strength in facing global challenges. Full government support, close collaboration with the private sector, and active participation from society will be key in realizing Indonesia’s vision as a global creative economy hub. Now is the time for all stakeholders to synergize and work together to ensure that the creative economy becomes a competitive and sustainable economic driver.
The author is an MSME entrepreneur.
