Creative economy new engine for Indonesia’s economic growth: Minister

Surabaya, E Java – The creative economy has emerged as a key driver of Indonesia’s economic growth, creating quality jobs while boosting the competitiveness of local products, according to Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya.”If culture is the foundation, then applying innovation, technology, and creativity to its outputs gives birth to the creative economy,” he said at the 2026 East Java Media Summit in Surabaya on Thursday.

According to him, East Java holds immense potential to develop its creative economy, backed by rich cultural heritage, skilled human resources, and a steadily growing creative ecosystem.

Harsya noted that the direction of creative economy development aligns with the national vision, which emphasizes the creation of quality jobs.

“We want to create high-quality jobs. The word ‘quality’ is key here because it requires specialized skills,” he said.

He argued that if creative economy players focus solely on creating jobs rather than their quality, their business operations will be stuck at the level of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Therefore, he added, creative economy players must improve their capacity by mastering digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

In addition to enhancing human resource skills, Harsya advocated for downstreaming in the creative industry by strengthening local products to displace foreign dominance in the domestic market.

The minister stressed that Indonesia has enormous potential in the creative economy, which requires support from all parties to achieve sustainable growth.

He expressed optimism that strengthening the creative economy ecosystem through upskilling, digital technology integration, and product downstreaming will support national economic growth, while enhancing Indonesia’s added value and competitiveness in global markets.

According to data from the Ministry of Creative Economy, total investment in the creative economy sector reached Rp183.01 trillion (approximately US$10.1 billion) in 2025—a 32.23 percent increase from Rp138.4 trillion the previous year, and a sharp rise compared to Rp89.37 trillion in 2023.