Creative Economy Minister: Creative Sector is a New Engine for National Growth

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - Creative Economy Minister (Menkraf) Teuku Riefky Harsya said the creative economy sector has become a new engine of national economic growth, capable of creating quality jobs while strengthening the competitiveness of local products, with its development starting from the regions.

“If culture is the upstream source, then when its derivatives are given a touch of innovation, technology and creativity, that is where the creative economy is born. The creative economy is not something that will become, but has already become a new engine of national economic growth starting from the regions,” he said at the Jatim Media Summit 2026 in Surabaya on Thursday.

According to him, East Java is one of the regions with great potential for developing the creative economy, supported by its cultural wealth, human resources and a continually growing creative business ecosystem.

He said the direction of creative economy development also aligns with the national development vision, which emphasises the creation of quality jobs.

Therefore, he continued, creative economy players need to enhance their capacity by mastering digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to boost productivity, innovation and the competitiveness of the creative industries.

“What we need is additional skills, especially the ability to adapt to digital and AI developments, so that the creative industries can grow even better,” he said.

Beyond improving human resource competencies, Teuku also believes downstreaming needs to be applied to the creative economy sector, so that it is not limited to the mining sector.