Jakarta, October 2, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) asserted its commitment to serving as a liaison in building inter-institutional networks to strengthen the national creative industry ecosystem. As a concrete manifestation of this effort, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, held an exploratory meeting on collaboration between the Mayor of Tasikmalaya and Bank Indonesia to formulate strategic synergies in conjunction with the upcoming 25th anniversary of Tasikmalaya City.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar (center), engages in a dialogue with Mayor of Tasikmalaya Viman Alfarizi (second from left) during an audience with the Mayor of Tasikmalaya and Bank Indonesia at the Ministry of Creative Economy office, Jakarta, Friday (2/10/2026).
“Today we are here to serve as a liaison between Tasikmalaya and Bank Indonesia. The principle is, ‘To know is to love’ (tak kenal maka tak sayang). Most importantly, we’ve already begun building connections this October, so that moving forward we can work together to develop well-thought-out and sustainable plans,” Irene Umar said at the Ministry of Creative Economy’s office on Friday (October 2).
Today’s creative economy audience with Tasikmalaya officials is a strategic follow-up to the first meeting on July 27, 2026, aimed at strengthening synergy and accelerating the development of the creative economy sector in the region. During this session, participants also discussed the profile of the 2026 Tasikmalaya October Festival (TOF), with a theme of “Langkah Santun, Jiwa Tangguh,” (Courteous Steps, Resilient Soul) as well as a focused discussion on strengthening the local economy through the organization of various sub-events involving the active participation of all segments of society.
In this regard, the Ministry of Creative Economy continues to integrate the strengthening of hexahelix collaboration, involving associations, governments, academicians, media, business actors, and financial institutions, which will foster a creative economy ecosystem that is increasingly inclusive, adaptive, and actionable. Comprehensive synergy among these six pillars is believed to serve as the primary driving force in revitalizing the regional economy and improving the welfare of the community.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“When it comes to the creative economy and city branding, we can no longer operate in isolation. It is time to break down institutional barriers, without any walls separating ministries, regions, or backgrounds. A holistic hexahelix collaboration is the key to uniting us under semangat merah putih, a passion that not only resonates on National Creative Economy Day but also makes its mark on the international stage,” the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy added.
The series of events planned includes cultural and arts festivals, MSME product exhibitions, sporting events, and a Free Health Check-up (CKG) program for residents. All of these activities are designed to enliven the region’s anniversary celebrations by involving massive public participation.
“Thank you to the Deputy Minister for bringing us together directly with the BI Headquarters to discuss the history of the Tasik October Festival, which was indeed initiated by BI from the very beginning. We hope this collaboration will continue to strengthen Tasikmalaya’s potential as a religious services hub and a Muslim-friendly tourism destination. We hope that Bank Indonesia Headquarters will continue to provide full support so that we can continue to collaborate in developing the creative economy and making Tasikmalaya a major tourism hub in East Priangan,” Tasikmalaya Mayor Viman Alfarizi Ramadhan said.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Opportunities for collaboration between Tasikmalaya and Bank Indonesia include the development of digital payment systems for MSMEs and support for creative financing. This synergy with the central bank is expected to accelerate the digital economic transformation at the local level.
“This strategic collaboration is designed to ensure that the integration of digital payment technology remains aligned with local values and the sustainability of culinary MSMEs in the region, so we are ready to collaborate and provide ongoing support to achieve our shared goals; however, please allow us to follow up and discuss first exactly what we can support in the future,” Nenden Endah Sari, Deputy Director of Bank Indonesia’s Payment System Policy Department said.
Also present at the meeting were Yopy Agung Prabowo, Special Assistant to the President for MSMEs and Digital Technology; and Deddy Mulyana, Head of the Tasikmalaya City Youth and Sports Agency. Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by Jago Anggara, Special Staff for Strengthening the Creative Economy Ecosystem and Data.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
