Jakarta, August 22, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) is strengthening collaboration with Bank Indonesia (BI) to encourage the regeneration of creative business players and strengthen the role of the younger generation in the growth of Indonesia’s national creative economy. The collaboration was carried out through the Youth Talk session at Karya Kreatif Indonesia (KKI) 2026, themed “Kreasi Karya, Generasi Berdaya: Peran Anak Muda dalam Mendorong Inovasi dan Kewirausahaan” (Creating Works, Empowering Generations: The Role of Youth in Driving Innovation and Entrepreneurship).
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, delivers a keynote speech at the seminar “Creating Works, Empowering Generations: The Role of Youth in Driving Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” part of the KKI 2026 series, at the Main Stage, Hall B, Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Jakarta, Saturday (22/8/2026).
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya expressed his appreciation for BI’s continued commitment to organizing KKI as a platform for strengthening MSMEs and the creative economy. According to him, KKI has evolved into a collaborative platform to improve the capacity, quality, continuity, and market access of creative business players.
“In its implementation, the younger generation is positioned not merely as the target of development, but also as key actors in strengthening the creative economy ecosystem,” said the Minister of Creative Economy at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Saturday (22/8).
The Minister of Creative Economy said that collaboration with BI needs to be strengthened to address challenges in developing the creative economy ecosystem, ranging from financing, digitalization, and market access to the development of e-commerce based on regional potential. Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the creative economy sector currently employs approximately 27.4 million people, with 63 percent of them comprising Gen Z and millennials. The sector also contributes 7.38 percent to national GDP and is targeted to increase its contribution to 8 percent before 2029.
“The areas we seek to strengthen in collaboration with BI include creative financing, creative digitalization, creative market access, and the development of e-commerce based on regional potential. From talent, creativity grows and produces works, which then create valuable intellectual property that can develop and drive the economy. The Ministry of Creative Economy also has Rindekraf as its roadmap, with young people as the talent and the creative economy as a space for growth and empowerment,” added the Minister of Creative Economy.
In line with the 2026–2045 National Creative Economy Masterplan (Rindekraf), the government is promoting the strengthening of talent, financing, infrastructure, market access, and incentives to create an increasingly inclusive and competitive creative economy ecosystem. The collaboration between the Ministry of Creative Economy and BI is also directed toward several agendas, including funding and financing strategies through business forums, the development of creative economy big data to identify creative service exports, the activation of public and creative spaces in the regions, data and market mapping, as well as the development of incentive schemes based on the green creative economy (green economy).
At the same event, BI Deputy Governor Thomas AM Djiwandono said that MSMEs play a strategic role in the national economy, but business sustainability, particularly in skills- and culture-based sectors, requires regeneration. Thomas encouraged the younger generation not only to continue existing businesses, but also to renew them through creativity, technology, digitalization, and the ability to understand market trends.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“MSMEs play a highly strategic role in Indonesia’s economy. They contribute approximately 61 percent to national GDP and absorb more than 97 percent of the workforce. However, MSME sustainability also faces regeneration challenges, particularly in skills- and culture-based sectors such as traditional textiles and crafts,” said Thomas Djiwandono.
According to Thomas, the younger generation has significant potential to make Indonesia’s culture-based products increasingly competitive. Gen Z and millennials, who are closely connected to technology, social media, and the digital economy, can serve as creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs capable of expanding the reach of local products.
“I would like to convey three messages to the younger generation. First, have the courage to create. Do not view MSMEs and the creative economy merely as traditional businesses, but as spaces for creating new opportunities and economic value. Second, continue to innovate by utilizing technology, creativity, and new approaches to make Indonesian products increasingly relevant and competitive. Third, preserve our identity. Innovation does not mean abandoning our roots; rather, Indonesia’s cultural richness is our strength and distinguishing factor amid global competition,” Thomas added.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The event continued with a talk show featuring representatives from Bank Indonesia, academics, and creative business players, who discussed strengthening the role of the younger generation, innovation, business regeneration, and strategies for developing creative products.
Also accompanying Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya was Acting Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development and Director of Strategic Studies and Management, Agus Syarip Hidayat.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
