Sunday, 25 October 2026
JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra is looking to expand its creative economy into international markets, with Deputy Governor Surya highlighting its potential to create jobs, strengthen regional cultural identity and improve Indonesia's global competitiveness. Speaking at the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026 in Jakarta, he called for stronger collaboration between government, creative communities, businesses, educational institutions and investors to turn local talent into economic opportunities.
Surya said the sector's development depended not only on natural resources but also on the ideas, creativity and innovation of Indonesians. These strengths, he argued, could generate greater economic value, open up new business opportunities and help local creative products compete in domestic and overseas markets.
He made the remarks during the WCCE 2026 at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, Jalan M. H. Thamrin No. 1, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 22 October 2026. Held from 21 to 23 October, the conference brings together government representatives, creative industry professionals, artists, academics and investors to strengthen cooperation in the creative economy at national and international levels.
According to Surya, North Sumatra has considerable potential to develop its creative industries and reach wider markets. However, that potential needs targeted support and coordinated efforts to help local businesses produce competitive goods and creative works.
"The creative economy does not depend solely on natural resources but is built on the ideas, creativity and innovative capacity of the Indonesian people. By developing the creative economy, we can create jobs while strengthening our cultural identity," Surya said.
Surya said a stronger creative economy ecosystem required sustained cooperation between government, creative communities, businesses, educational institutions and investors. Such partnerships would help creative professionals develop ideas, improve product quality and expand their marketing reach.
He also highlighted the strategic role of the National Movement for the Creative Economy (Gerakan Ekonomi Kreatif Nasional, Gekrafs) as a platform for collaboration and innovation. Closer connections between industry players could facilitate networking, knowledge-sharing and the development of new business opportunities.
For North Sumatra, this approach offers a way to transform local talent and cultural heritage into products with greater added value. Creative professionals could draw on the region's distinctive identity while adapting their work to changing market demands.
The sector could also generate employment, particularly for young people with skills in art, design, music, handicrafts, digital content and other creative fields.
The WCCE 2026 provides a platform for exchanging ideas and experience across countries. Participants can explore international partnerships, expand professional networks and identify new markets and investment opportunities.
For Indonesia, the conference also offers an opportunity to showcase domestic creative talent and locally produced goods to international audiences. With the right strategy, creative works can deliver not only cultural value but also generate income and support economic growth.
At the conference, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir emphasised the need to widen access to development opportunities for creative talent around the world. He noted that talent could emerge anywhere, but opportunities to develop and showcase it were not equally available.
"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not," he said.
His remarks highlighted the importance of an inclusive creative economy ecosystem. Creative professionals, particularly those in developing countries, need better access to finance, technology, education, professional networks and international markets to compete on fairer terms.
Unequal access to opportunities remains a challenge for the global creative economy. Many people have the ideas and skills needed to produce high-quality work, but limited funding, inadequate infrastructure and restricted marketing channels often prevent them from reaching new customers or expanding their businesses.
Supportive policies and cross-border partnerships are therefore important to strengthening the sector. Governments, businesses and supporting institutions need to help creative professionals grow their enterprises, protect their intellectual property and earn sustainable returns from their work.
The WCCE 2026 is being held under the theme "Inclusively Creative: Collective Continuity". The theme highlights the importance of ensuring that people have opportunities to participate in the creative economy regardless of their background or geographical location, while maintaining the sector's long-term development.
A key item on the WCCE 2026 agenda is the development of the "Jakarta Vision on Creative Economy". The document is intended to strengthen international cooperation and help establish the creative economy as a strategic component of the global development agenda beyond the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative reflects efforts to expand the sector's contribution to major development priorities, including job creation, business growth and wider economic participation.
Developing the creative economy also requires policies that keep pace with technological change and shifting consumer behaviour. Digital platforms, for example, can help creative professionals market their work across borders without relying exclusively on traditional distribution channels.
However, access to new markets must go hand in hand with better product quality, intellectual property protection, improved access to finance and professional skills development. These forms of support are essential to helping creative businesses remain sustainable and secure fair returns from their work.
Other senior officials attending the conference included head of the National Development Planning Agency Rachmat Pambudy, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
Their participation reflected the importance of coordinated action across government and other sectors to incorporate the creative economy into development strategies. Cooperation between public institutions, businesses, communities and international partners is intended to foster an ecosystem that supports the sector's growth.
For North Sumatra, the conference offers an opportunity to build international connections, showcase regional creative talent and explore partnerships with industry players from other countries. The key challenge will be turning those opportunities into practical programmes that support local creators, strengthen creative businesses and expand access to markets.
Ultimately, developing the creative economy means more than producing new works. It also requires conditions in which creativity can deliver economic and social benefits. Through stronger cooperation, more inclusive access to opportunities and continued innovation, the sector can contribute to economic growth while bringing Indonesia's cultural identity to wider international audiences. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
