Jakarta, September 29, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), in collaboration with the independent research institute Indonesia Fasilitator (InFast) Bestari, has formulated solutions to support the middle class through the use of blockchain technology. This initiative focuses on formulating inclusive policies, creating quality jobs, and expanding access to financing for creative economy practitioners throughout Indonesia.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, receives an audience with Infast Bestari at the Ministry of Creative Economy office, Jakarta, Tuesday (29/09/2026).
“The creative economy plays a strategic role in addressing two key challenges: creating jobs for the younger generation and reducing the number of people in the middle class. Currently, about 63 percent of the 27.4 million workers in the creative economy are Gen Z and millennials. This means that every creative economy subsector has great potential to create jobs while also serving as a pillar of the middle class by increasing income and strengthening people’s purchasing power,” Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, stated during a meeting held on Tuesday (September 29).
Furthermore, the Minister of Creative Economy explained the importance of commercializing creative economy works as well as the hexahelix collaborative approach, which involves the government, academics, entrepreneurs, communities, the media, and financial institutions. This integrated approach is necessary to break through the financing barriers often faced by creative entrepreneurs.
“The involvement of financial institutions is crucial in the hexahelix collaborative approach because access to funding remains a challenge for creative economy practitioners. Through collaboration with various parties, including Bank Indonesia and the OJK, we aim to introduce innovative financing solutions that leverage digital technologies such as blockchain to strengthen Indonesia’s creative economy ecosystem. Together with InFast Bestari, we can collaborate on the Asta Ekraf Program, such as Ekraf Data and Dana Ekraf,” Teuku Riefky said.
On the same occasion, InFast Bestari highlighted the urgency of providing targeted incentives and protection schemes for the economically strained middle class so they can maintain their capacity to consume local creative products and those from MSMEs. Hizkia Yosias Polimpung, Director of Research and Database at InFast Bestari, highlighted the economic vulnerability of this group.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“These middle-class individuals are too wealthy to receive social assistance, yet too poor to be considered living a decent life. In economic terms, they are the missing middle. This is why we propose they be provided with ‘scaffolding,’ a safety net to prevent their economic situation from deteriorating further,” Hizkia said.
This hearing also served as a preparatory event for the National Symposium titled “Blockchain-Based Urban Cooperative Ecosystem: Economic Growth Strategies Centered on the Creative Urban Middle Class,” scheduled for September 30, 2026. The forum, projected to bring together 300–400 stakeholders, is scheduled to feature the Minister of Creative Economy as the keynote speaker.
Accompanying the Minister of Creative Economy at this meeting were the Deputy for Strategic Development of the Creative Economy, Mohammed Ali Berawi; the Deputy for Digital Creativity and Technology, Muhammad Neil El Himam; and the Minister’s Expert Advisor, Gemintang Kejora Mallarangeng.
Meanwhile, the InFast Bestari leadership team included Executive Director Gede Sandra; Director of Public Policy Research Muhammad Ridha; Director of People’s Economy Hanny Wijaya; Director of Geopolitics and Public Policy Dominggus Oktavianus; Director of Strategic Communications Bin Bin Firman Tresnadi; and Director of Media and Communications Agus P.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
