At East Java Media Summit 2026, Minister of Creative Economy Emphasizes the Strategic Role of Media in Strengthening East Java's Creative Economy
Surabaya, July 30, 2026 – Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, emphasized that the media plays a strategic role in strengthening the creative economy ecosystem while driving national economic growth. He delivered the remarks during his keynote speech at the East Java Media Summit 2026, held at Whiz Luxe Hotel, Surabaya, on Thursday (30/7).
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, delivers the keynote speech at the East Java Media Summit 2026 at Whiz Luxe Hotel, Surabaya, on Thursday (30/07/2026).
The Minister stated that cross-sector collaboration is the key to strengthening Indonesia's creative economy ecosystem. Through the hexahelix approach, the government encourages the active participation of six key stakeholders—government, academia, businesses, communities, financial institutions, and the media—to collectively build a sustainable creative ecosystem.
"We believe that collaboration is the key to strengthening the creative economy ecosystem. That is why we adopt the hexahelix approach, which brings together the government, academia, business players, communities, financial institutions, and the media. Without the support of the media, our various initiatives would certainly struggle to reach the public effectively," said the Minister.
Photo by Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
On the occasion, the Minister also outlined the implementation of the Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf), which will be reinforced through the development of creative economy institutions at the regional level. This effort is supported by the Ministry's three flagship programs—Creative Village Activation, Creative Hub Activation, and Creative by Indonesia—which aim to increase productivity, encourage investment, and strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia's creative industries.
"We hope the East Java Media Summit will serve as a strategic forum to initiate discussions on technology adoption and the development of more adaptive media business models. Alongside the establishment of the Ministry of Creative Economy, collaboration with the media has become increasingly important to broaden public awareness, strengthen the capacity of the creative ecosystem, and bring forward inspiring stories that contribute to national economic growth," the Minister added.
The Minister also highlighted the positive performance of Indonesia's creative economy sector. According to the 2025 Creative Economy Statistics, the sector contributed IDR1.75787 quadrillion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), recording a growth rate of 6.86 percent. In addition to employing approximately 27.4 million people, the creative economy generated exports valued at USD31.94 billion and realized investment worth IDR183.01 trillion. These achievements further reinforce the creative economy's position as a new engine of national economic growth.
Regional Secretary of East Java Province, Adhy Karyono, stated that the East Java Media Summit 2026 marks an important milestone in strengthening strategic collaboration between the government, the media industry, and various stakeholders. He expressed hope that the forum would not only serve as a platform for exchanging ideas but also generate recommendations that support the development of the media and creative economy ecosystem in East Java.
Photo by Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
"This forum is not merely about collaboration; it is about building strategic partnerships, fostering productive relationships, and producing recommendations that should be presented to the government," said Adhy Karyono.
Carrying the theme "Creative Economy Ecosystem & Beyond Media Transformation in East Java," the East Java Media Summit 2026 serves as a cross-sector collaborative platform to strengthen the sustainability of the media industry while supporting the promotion of the potential across Indonesia's 21 creative economy subsectors. Adhy Karyono emphasized the importance of the media industry's adaptation to technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI), and evolving public behavior.
The East Java Media Summit 2026 also featured a series of programs, including talk shows, best practice sharing sessions, panel discussions, showcases, and conferences focusing on strategies for sustainable media businesses. The forum is expected to strengthen a healthy, innovative, and adaptive media ecosystem as one of the key pillars supporting democracy and the growth of Indonesia's creative economy.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
