Teuku Riefky Optimistic About Strong Performance of Creative Economy

Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya estimates that the creative economy sector will contribute around 6.5% to gross domestic product (GDP). “When the average is 5%, the creative economy sector is at 6.5%. That was last year. Hopefully this year it will be at least the same or even better,” said Riefky in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

Riefky stated that his ministry is still awaiting official data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) regarding the growth and contribution of the creative economy to the national economic rate. He estimates that the data will only be submitted by BPS around June this year.

He is also optimistic about the growth and contribution of the creative economy, based on previous years. “The 2024 data for GDP was 1.5% above the national average,” he said.

On the same occasion, Riefky revealed several achievements in the creative economy, all of which exceeded targets in 2025. Riefky said that creative economy exports exceeded 120% of the annual target set at US$26.4 billion.

In terms of investment, Riefky said the creative economy sector recorded a total value of Rp180 trillion, or exceeding 130% of the set target of Rp134 trillion.

Additionally, Riefky said employment absorption in the creative economy sector reached 27.4 million people against a target of 25.5 million in 2025.

The Central Statistics Agency reported that economic growth for the January–March 2026 period increased by 5.61% year-on-year. Economic growth in Q1-2025 was recorded at 4.87%.

BPS noted that the gross domestic product for the first quarter of 2026, based on current market prices (ADHB), was Rp6,187.2 trillion, while based on constant prices (ADHK), it was Rp3,447.7 trillion.