Madiun, August 21, 2026 – Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening regional creative economy (Ekraf) ecosystems at the 2026 PAWITANDIROGO Independence Forum (Pacitan, Ngawi, Magetan, Madiun, Ponorogo) in Madiun, East Java. This strategic step aims to position the creative economy sector as a new engine of national economic growth rooted in regional areas.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening regional creative economy (Ekraf) ecosystems at the 2026 PAWITANDIROGO Independence Forum (Pacitan, Ngawi, Magetan, Madiun, Ponorogo) in Madiun, East Java, Friday (August 21, 2026).
“We appreciate the dedication of everyone involved in developing and empowering creative economy practitioners in PAWITANDIROGO as a strong foundation for shared progress. Physical and non-physical infrastructure play a crucial role in accelerating the creative economy; however, limited facilities must not become an obstacle to the emergence of innovative ideas. The utilization of Green and Blue Open Spaces (RTHB) can serve as an effective alternative platform for expressing creative works, in line with the spirit of collaboration across regions,” said Teuku Riefky at the event, themed Regional Development and Economic Empowerment, on Friday (August 21).
This effort is further reinforced by President Prabowo Subianto's policy establishing the Presidential Regulation on the 2026–2045 Creative Economy Masterplan (Rindekraf), the implementation of which is overseen by a Coordination Team comprising 26 ministries/agencies under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister, Minister of Creative Economy, and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas. Through the establishment of the Creative Economy Infrastructure Cluster, the policy can activate creative spaces and strengthen infrastructure synergies to address commercialization challenges and expand market access for creative economy practitioners in the PAWITANDIROGO region.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The Ministry of Creative Economy also carries out three key mandates from President Prabowo Subianto, namely Poverty Alleviation, Acceleration of the National Economy, and Implementation of National Creative Economy Policies. To achieve these targets, three flagship programs have been launched: Creative Village Activation, Creative Hub or Creative Space Activation, and Creative by Indonesia, which serve as important instruments for talent development, strengthening entrepreneurship, and accelerating local creative works onto the global stage.
“We believe that strengthening the creative economy ecosystem is a strategic step toward improving the national economy. With policy support, program synergies, and cross-sector collaboration, we are optimistic that East Java can serve as an example of sustainable creative economy ecosystem development to improve community welfare. Let us make the creative economy a new engine of national economic growth, starting from the regions, including East Java,” said the Minister of Creative Economy.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
East Java Province has been designated as one of the 15 priority provinces for national creative economy development under the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). This achievement is supported by the presence of three Creative Cities/Regencies, two areas that are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), as well as 41 regencies/cities, including five regencies/cities in East Java, that have undergone the Indonesian Creative Cities/Regencies Self-Assessment (PMK3I) process.
The Ministry of Creative Economy believes that strengthening the creative economy ecosystem in East Java, particularly in the leading subsectors of culinary, performing arts, and media art, can create significant opportunities for Indonesian creative works to compete globally. Policy synergies, cross-sector collaboration, and the hexahelix approach, integrating the roles of associations, government, academia, media, businesses, and financial institutions, are expected to position East Java as a model for sustainable creative ecosystem development that contributes to community welfare.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The Independence Forum is an annual forum initiated by the PAWITANDIROGO Association in collaboration with local governments. The event features strategic discussion sessions, reviews of regional potential, and platforms for collaboration among the government, communities, and creative MSMEs.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Minister of Creative Economy and all invited guests for taking the time to attend this event. The true measure of this annual activity lies in its concrete benefits for the region. We hope that the PAWITANDIROGO area can continue to contribute to the welfare of the people of East Java through various strategic collaboration agreements established during this event,” said Chairman of the PAWITANDIROGO Association, Susiwijono Moegiarso.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Also attending the event were Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil E. Dardak; PAWITANDIROGO Advisor, Nyoman Adhi Suryadnyana; Echelon I officials and leaders of central ministries/agencies; as well as Regents, Mayors, Deputy Regents, and Deputy Mayors from across the PAWITANDIROGO region. The Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by Expert Staff to the Minister for Protocol and Regional Coordination, Panji Purboyo; and Expert Staff to the Minister for Administrative and General Governance, Faris Setyadi.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
