Government strengthens area-based creative economy to tackle poverty

The government is strengthening cross-ministry collaboration to promote community economic empowerment through micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and area-based creative economy sectors. The collaboration involves the Ministry of Creative Economy, the Ministry of SMEs, and the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to address extreme poverty that can be driven by MSME and creative economy activities. Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, in an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, conveyed that the Ministry of Creative Economy is ready to facilitate creative entrepreneurs, especially among underprivileged groups, to enable their development, particularly as creative economy practitioners continue to grow in various regions. The Ministry of Creative Economy’s efforts aim to encourage creative economy practitioners in the regions, including by continuously activating creative villages and collaborating with local governments and various parties to present the creative economy as a new engine of regional growth. This aligns with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto, who wants to see the potential of the creative economy not only from the centre but also to enhance potential from the regions. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhaimin Iskandar is optimistic that the presence of the Ministry of Creative Economy and the Ministry of SMEs will further open up job opportunities for Indonesians. Thus, the set targets can be realised. Meanwhile, Minister of SMEs Maman Abdurrahman stated that the ministry collaboration is a strategic step in tackling poverty in Indonesia. The ministerial-level meeting was held in the Blok M area, South Jakarta, on Monday (4/5) to directly observe best practices in the field in realising area-based economy. With an average of 80,000 visitors per day and an economic turnover of around Rp5 billion, the Blok M area is considered a best practice ready for replication.