Ibas: Creative Economy Becomes New Growth Engine in Regions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, stated that the creative economy sector can become a new engine for regional economic growth through cross-sector collaborations, ranging from SMEs, tourism, arts and culture to digital-based trade.
Ibas, in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday, said the creative economy sector has great potential that has not been optimally developed, and it is a new source of economy that holds significant opportunities for regions, including in Pacitan, East Java.
“The creative economy is a great potential that we have not fully exploited. It exists in Pacitan, and I am confident it can develop into a new economic force,” he said while opening the Human Resource Capacity Building Workshop for the Creative Economy themed “Improving Quality, Expanding Markets, Building Indonesia” in Pacitan.
According to Ibas, strengthening the creative economy cannot be done partially, but must be built through comprehensive strengthening of the creative ecosystem and infrastructure.
“What is needed is strengthening the creative ecosystem and infrastructure. In the future, Pacitan can become a centre for the creative economy and a national hub if all its regional potentials are developed together,” he said.
He added that the creative economy can also be strengthened through more modern and creative packaging of local culture. According to him, various distinctive arts from Pacitan such as rontek, kethek ogleng, and Tari Klayar have high market value if built with strong narratives and identities.
“Our cultural performances must be packaged more attractively, more creatively, with stories and identities. That way, their market value will be higher and able to attract tourists’ attention,” he said.
He also encouraged the younger generation to become the driving force for digital promotion of the region through social media and various digital platforms.
“Digitalisation is both a challenge and an opportunity. Young people must become the main actors in digital promotion of regional tourism and creative economy,” he stated.
He further encouraged the utilisation of financing access such as the Creative People’s Business Credit (KUR) to strengthen business capital and the digital capacity of SME actors.
“If the problem is capital, utilise the Creative KUR so that businesses can grow, digitalisation increases, and product promotion becomes more optimal,” he said.