Jakarta, August 19, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) explored a potential collaboration with Indonesia Open Network (ION) to expand access to digital markets and enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia’s creative economy players. The matter was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar and ION at the Ministry of Creative Economy office in Jakarta on Wednesday (August 19).
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar (right), speaks with ION Head Steering Committee Sachin Gopalan (second left) during a meeting with Indonesia Open Network (ION) at the Ministry of Creative Economy office, Jakarta, Wednesday (August 19, 2026)
The collaboration is aimed at accelerating digital transformation while expanding access to the commercialization of local creative products in global markets.
“Partnership with ION represents an important momentum to open broader and more inclusive digital market access for creators across Indonesia. The integration of technology will not only strengthen the business infrastructure of entrepreneurs, but also multiply the competitiveness and economic value of national creative works in the global arena,” said Irene Umar.
The meeting discussed the potential utilization of ION to support the development of the creative economy ecosystem, ranging from expanded market access and digital marketing, cross-border trade, financing, intellectual property protection, to the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based technology. The two sides also discussed opportunities to synergize various strategic programs to promote sustainable creative economy growth, from regional to national levels.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) processed by the Ministry of Creative Economy, the creative economy sector continued to record positive performance, with realized investment reaching Rp183.01 trillion and export value amounting to US$31.94 billion in 2025. This performance was supported by the employment of 27.40 million workers, predominantly from the younger generation, as well as significant contributions from 21 creative economy subsectors.
“Collaboration in utilizing technology and ION’s open network ecosystem could provide an appropriate platform to support digitalization and the protection of intellectual property in the creative economy. The planned establishment of a joint working team will subsequently be coordinated with the relevant creative economy teams according to their respective fields. However, the greatest challenge is building the capacity of business players so that they can adapt optimally, enabling this fair and sustainable collaboration to be implemented promptly,” added Irene Umar.
ION was developed through cooperation between the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) as part of the Indonesia–India Digital Cooperation initiative. The infrastructure is designed to integrate various applications and services to support creative economy players’ access to digital markets, logistics, payments, financing, insurance, skills development, as well as AI-based trade.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We greatly appreciate the time and discussion with Deputy Minister Irene Umar, and we hope to collaborate in establishing a joint working team with the government. ION cannot succeed on its own; we need extensive collaboration with the government and parties that share the same vision to build an ecosystem that empowers young talent, MSMEs, and local creative economy players,” explained ION Head Steering Committee Sachin Gopalan.
Also accompanying the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy at the meeting were Director of Funding, Financing and Investment Access Development Anggara Hayun Anujuprana; Director of Intellectual Property Facilitation Development Muhammad Fauzy; Acting Director of Marketing System and Institutional Relations Development Aulia Chloridiany; and Head of the Data and Information Center Reslyana Dwitasari.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
