Coordinating Minister: Access to Global Markets, Not Product Quality, is Creative Industry's Biggest Challenge
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, stated that the greatest challenge for Indonesia’s creative industry players today is no longer producing high-quality products, but rather obtaining access to global markets.
“The government must begin focusing on opening global access for local brands. Indonesian products are increasingly high in quality. The frequent challenge is actually how to bring our best works to meet markets, networks, and opportunities at the international level,” said Muhaimin Iskandar in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.
He made these remarks while visiting the Indonesia Marketplace as part of the Movement Across Time (MASA) Singapore 2026 at the Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore.
According to him, the promotion of Indonesian products abroad has so far relied heavily on short-term exhibitions. In reality, business actors require more sustainable access to markets, business networks, and strategic partners that can help them expand globally.
He assessed that the approach developed by the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, through collaboration with MASA, introduces a new paradigm in supporting creative economy players.
The government is not merely facilitating participation in exhibitions, but is building cross-sector collaborations to bring curated Indonesian brands into strategic commercial spaces and connect them directly with the international market ecosystem.
“I appreciate Ms Irene and the officials of the Ministry of Creative Economy for initiating this new approach. What is being built is not just an exhibition, but the opening of access. Indonesian brands are brought together with buyers, investors, media, and international commercial space managers. The added value lies there,” said Muheimin Iskandar.
Muhaimin Iskandar believes that models like MASA need to be expanded because they demonstrate that government support for business actors does not always have to be realised in the form of budgets or direct assistance.
In many situations, opening access, building networks, and connecting business actors with strategic opportunities provides a more sustainable impact.
“If it is only about exhibiting, the impact often ceases when the event ends. But when the government is able to open access and build networks, the benefits will continue to develop long after the activity has concluded. This is how the government provides added value to the community,” he said.