Padang, August 9, 2026 – Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, reaffirmed his full support for the Padang City Government’s bid to have the city designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The statement was delivered during the Talks on Taste forum, a key part of the Taste of Padang Experience 2026: Road to Gastronomy City, held to commemorate the 357th anniversary of Padang City in the Old Town area of Padang on Sunday (August 9).
Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, expresses his support for the development of Padang City toward becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy during the Talks on Taste forum in the Old Town area of Padang, Sunday (August 9, 2026).
The Minister of Creative Economy said that Padang’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy would be a strategic national step, as it could make Padang the first Indonesian city of gastronomy to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The Ministry of Creative Economy is ready to support the process through promotion, administrative preparations, communication with international networks, and collaboration with various stakeholders.
“I fully support the Mayor’s commitment to nominate Padang City as a City of Gastronomy within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. If successful, this will not only be a struggle for the Mayor or the people of Padang City, but a collective effort of the Government of Indonesia, including the Ministry of Creative Economy,” said Teuku Riefky.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
According to Teuku Riefky, the development of Padang’s gastronomy needs to be supported by a clear identity, including through the formulation of definitions and recipe standardization as part of the storytelling that can strengthen Padang City’s position in the UCCN nomination process. The development should also involve other creative economy subsectors, such as design, publishing, music, and performing arts, so that gastronomy becomes part of an interconnected and mutually reinforcing creative ecosystem.
Taste of Padang Experience 2026 takes place from August 6–10, 2026, featuring a series of activities including Padang Gastronomy Market, Padang Bajamba, Padang Harmoni Festival, and Talks on Taste. The Talks on Taste forum brings together government representatives, culinary experts, industry players, associations, academics, and communities to discuss the development of Padang gastronomy as a cultural identity and a creative economy opportunity. One of the activities is a 9.9 Flash Sale offering 1,000 portions of Rendang Fried Rice at Rp357 per portion.
Padang Mayor Fadly Amran said the Padang City Government is ready to improve the quality of its gastronomy while preparing various supporting aspects toward international recognition. According to him, Padang’s strengths lie not only in its rich culinary heritage, but also in its traditions, history, cultural diversity, hospitality, and readiness to provide high-quality experiences for tourists.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We are ready to take on the challenge of realizing The City of Padang to be the City of Gastronomy,” said Fadly.
The Minister of Creative Economy said the Ministry encourages the curation of local heroes and the intellectual property of regional culinary products to be developed for national and global markets. The curation will be conducted together with culinary experts, industry players, and local governments to identify creative potential with international competitiveness.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“I hope that more IPs and creative economy practitioners from Padang City can move up to the national and international levels. We will continue to conduct curation together with experts, industry players, and local governments to identify local heroes with the potential to reach the global stage,” said Teuku Riefky.
The Ministry of Creative Economy will continue to encourage collaboration with the Padang City Government and various stakeholders to strengthen the gastronomy ecosystem, enhance the capacity of creative economy practitioners, and expand the promotion of regional culinary heritage. Through Taste of Padang Experience 2026, the development of gastronomy is expected to extend beyond the celebration of Padang City’s anniversary and become part of a sustained effort to strengthen Padang’s competitiveness at both the national and international levels.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Also attending the event were Indonesian chef and culinary expert William Wongso; Chairman of the Indonesian Culinary Council, Gupta Sitorus; culinary industry figure Roby Bagindo; Founder of Ray Janson Radio and creative industry practitioner Ray Janson; Third-place winner of MasterChef Indonesia Season 8 and celebrity chef Chef Adi; culinary practitioner and enthusiast Ida Bagus Agung Gunartha (Gus Agung); and winner of the HUT ke-81 RI logo competition, Fajar Novario.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
