Creative Economy Minister Urges Graduates to Drive Economy Through Entrepreneurship

Creative Economy Minister and Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, has invited graduates from the 49th STIAMI Institute cohort to become drivers of the creative economy through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Minister stated that the younger generation has a strategic role in creating jobs and enhancing competitiveness through the power of ideas, creativity, and adaptability on the path towards Golden Indonesia 2045. “The creative economy is fundamentally about young people and ideas. As creative, visionary, and adaptive digital natives, Generation Z and millennials possess a great ability to generate innovative ideas that transcend cultural and national boundaries,” Riefky said in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday. The Minister emphasised that amidst this era of digital disruption, graduates, as part of the demographic bonus, are challenged not merely to be job seekers but to be capable of creating new employment opportunities by strengthening the creative economy. “With more than 53 per cent of the population in the productive age bracket, this sector is considered capable of absorbing graduates and young people, whilst simultaneously addressing the challenge of high unemployment rates among the 15–39 age group,” he said. According to the Minister, the creative, adaptive, and tech-savvy characteristics of Generation Z and Millennials align with the needs of the creative economy industry. This is reflected in the 2025 workforce structure of Indonesia’s creative economy players, which is 63 per cent dominated by millennials and Gen Z. “The younger generation must become agents of change, connecting knowledge from campus to society, industry, and the global market. For this reason, I entrust graduates with three important messages towards Golden Indonesia 2045: continue learning to face rapid change, dare to create opportunities and become job creators, and maintain integrity with strong character,” the Minister stressed. The government continues to strengthen creative economy development through eight strategic policies under Asta Ekraf, covering the strengthening of data, regulation, talent, infrastructure, intellectual property, financing access, market expansion, and hexahelix collaboration. In addition, the Ministry of Creative Economy is also preparing the 2027 Creative Economy Flagship Programme, which includes the activation of creative villages, development of creative hubs, the Creative by Indonesia programme, assistance for creative production facilities, and the strengthening of creative economy institutions and diplomacy.