Merdeka Night seen as economic driver down to the regions

Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya has assessed that the Merdeka Night series in the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence not only serves as a space for cultural expression and creativity, but also has the potential to deliver a real impact on the economy, including in the regions.

According to Riefky, independence celebration activities can become a momentum to showcase the quality of Indonesian talent while transforming cultural wealth and creativity into value-added economic activity.

“Indonesian talent is extraordinary. Culture is the upstream, and when it is touched by innovation, technology and creativity, that is where the creative economy or its economic value emerges,” he said at a Merdeka Night press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

He assessed that independence is not only a momentum to celebrate the nation’s achievements, but also an opportunity to strengthen talent and creativity as a new source of economic growth.

The momentum of independence celebrations in various regions can also become part of creative economy development. Various regions showcase their local wisdom, culture and creativity on different scales.

If previously arts and culture were mostly seen as entertainment, according to Riefky, these activities can now be developed into a source of economic value.

Riefky emphasised that for the regions, independence celebrations can also become a space to build optimism while introducing local creative potential.

“Now arts and culture have economic value that can certainly have an impact not only on regional GDP, or nationally on GDP, but also on employment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the economic impact of organising the People’s Party or activities gathering with the public in the Monas area is also visible from the involvement of MSME players.

Riefky said the Monas area is prepared to accommodate around 600,000 people, with around 600 MSME stalls, each of which can be filled by two MSMEs.

He said creative economy development requires collaboration among various stakeholders, from government, the private sector, academics, media, communities, associations to financial institutions.

The works and creativity of the nation’s children are considered to need to be increasingly viewed as assets that have economic value. In this way, creative players will not only be able to become hosts in their own country, but can also penetrate the global market.