Aceh Tamiang, September 11, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) is accelerating the recovery and revitalization of the regional creative economy ecosystem through the Ekraf Peduli ‘Pulih Bersama, Bangkit Berdaya’ program. This strategic initiative is being implemented as a follow-up to Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 1 of 2026 concerning the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Natural Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra Provinces, under the coordination of the Ministry of Home Affairs as Chair of the Task Force Executive Team.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, attends the Ekraf Peduli ‘Pulih Bersama, Bangkit Berdaya’ program in the form of ‘Competency Training and Certification’ at the Hall of the Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretariat, Friday (11/9/2026).
This support represents the state’s tangible presence through the implementation of the Ekraf Peduli ‘Pulih Bersama, Bangkit Berdaya’ program in the form of ‘Competency Training and Certification’ at the Hall of the Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretariat on Friday (11/9). The event utilized various public spaces for creative activation, including areas that had previously been affected by flooding. The program is designed to be sustainable and will be evaluated periodically for replication in other affected areas.
“Today’s series of activities involves all ministries and institutions assigned by the President to support post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction. In Aceh alone, there are 103 assignments to be carried out through the end of the year across all regencies/cities in Aceh, as well as areas outside Aceh, such as North Sumatra and West Sumatra. We want to ensure that creative economy players in Aceh Tamiang receive the competency development and certification they need to restore their livelihoods and strengthen their business competitiveness,” said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya during his direct visit to the event venue.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The program focuses on barista training and competency testing in response to the rapid transformation of traditional coffee shops into modern coffee shops in the Aceh–North Sumatra border region. Through the standardization of the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI) and certification by the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP), local youth are being prepared to meet hospitality industry qualifications and support local employment in the culinary subsector.
“Barista certification is very important because competency is part of quality and professionalism. Our task is not merely to make coffee, but also to provide the best service so that customers feel comfortable. Set your ambitions as high as possible and do not let yourself be held back. Let us rise with full enthusiasm! Opportunities out there are very broad, as long as we are willing to continuously update and improve our competencies,” said Teuku Riefky.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The Competency-Based Training (PBK) program began with the registration of 112 participants, who went through recruitment, digital account creation, and theoretical and practical coffee-making training. Based on the evaluation results, 86 participants were selected to proceed to the competency testing stage. The process included self-assessment, interviews, and practical tests conducted before an assessment team from the Professional Certification Institute (LSP) PARSI, consisting of Widhy Andriyadi, Tjatur Rebowo, Sayidul Anwar, and Joko Prayitno.
“Government facilities should be utilized for creative activities, because the creative ecosystem is very beneficial for us, with young people as its driving force. I ask that the certification process be carried out properly so that we can achieve the best possible results. And thank you to the Ministry of Creative Economy for organizing this beneficial activity!” said Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Pahmi.
Participants declared competent through the assessment process will receive an Official Competency Certificate licensed by BNSP. Through the development of skilled human resources that meet national standards, the Ministry of Creative Economy is optimistic that the competitiveness of the regional culinary industry can be significantly improved while further strengthening the local creative economy ecosystem.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Taking part in this certification is very beneficial and important for gaining additional knowledge as well as official recognition of competency from the state. In addition, this activity provides certification that establishes industry standards and increases the confidence of coffee industry players in serving the best products to customers,” said participant Muhamad Yogi Pramadhan.
Also attending the activity were Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretary Suibun Anwar; Chairperson of the Aceh Tamiang Regional House of Representatives (DPRK), Fadlon; Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretary Syuibun Anwar; and Head of the Tourism, Creative Economy, Youth, and Sports Office of Aceh Tamiang Regency, Muhammad Farij.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by Deputy for Digital Creativity Neil El Himam; Special Staff to the Minister for Strategic and Interinstitutional Affairs, Rian Firmansyah; Head of the Natural Resources Development Center, Adi Mukhtar Rivai; Director of Infrastructure Facilitation, Fahmy Akmal; and Minister’s Expert Staff for Media Issues and Public Opinion, Hasbil Mustaqim Lubis.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
