Aceh Tamiang, September 11, 2026 – Post-disaster recovery in Aceh Tamiang Regency is not limited to infrastructure. The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) is also encouraging culinary business players to help revive the local economy through the Masak Bersama Master (MASAMO) program.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, attends the Masak Bersama Master (MASAMO) program at WD Coffee, Aceh Tamiang, Friday (11/9/2026).
A total of 100 affected culinary business players participated in training held on September 10–12, 2026. They learned not only how to process local food ingredients into value-added products, but also received training in business management, financial management, digital marketing, and intellectual property (IP) protection.
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya said the program is part of the government’s efforts to accelerate the economic recovery of the people of Aceh Tamiang.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Our presence here is based on the President’s directive to support the Regent’s program to revive the regional economy. This is a very good opportunity going forward. Thank you for your commitment. Let us pray that Aceh Tamiang will continue to prosper, its economy will recover, and economic opportunities will continue to expand. Thank you also to the Chef. Hopefully, more and more exciting ideas will emerge and be able to create extensive employment opportunities,” said the Minister of Creative Economy at WD Coffee, Aceh Tamiang, Friday (11/9).
The MASAMO program is part of the Ekraf Peduli “Pulih Bersama, Bangkit Berdaya” movement, which aims to revitalize the creative economy based on local potential in disaster-affected areas.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The program also serves as a follow-up to Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 1 of 2026 concerning the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRRP) in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. All of these activities utilize various available spaces for creative activation, including areas that were previously affected by flooding.
“This program is being carried out continuously. Currently, there are 103 diverse programs being distributed to affected regencies/cities, both within and outside Aceh, and programs are even being prepared for East Nusa Tenggara. Community support is not focused solely on physical rehabilitation and reconstruction, but also on developing the regional economy,” said the Minister of Creative Economy.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
During the training, participants took part in a cooking demonstration with Chef Hasan Basri, Chairperson of the Indonesia Chef Association Regional Board of North Sumatra. They also received business training from Angga Nugraha, Business & Operation Growth Strategist and Chief Operations Officer of King Fried Chicken.
The training materials covered the calculation of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), product development, marketing strategies, and IP protection.
“Alhamdulillah, around 10 months after the disaster, recovery has reached 80 percent. We are very grateful for the Minister’s extraordinary initiative. Programs like this have a significant impact and serve as tangible evidence of the central government’s concern for us. We sincerely hope that this program can continue,” said Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Pahmi.
Participants were also trained to prepare ready-to-eat products using local ingredients with a longer shelf life without refrigeration. In addition to production skills, they received training in financial management, product bundling strategies, and business trademark legalities. The cooking equipment used during the training was also provided to participants to support the development of their businesses after the program concluded.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Alhamdulillah, through this creative economy activity and the recipes from the chef, I gained new menu ideas for my business, Catering Bundawana, such as Black Pepper Beef and many others. Although my catering business mainly serves Nusantara flavors because people have diverse tastes, there is no harm in introducing new varieties in the future. Hopefully, these menus will become new favorites and bring in even more customers!” said Nurwachna, one of the participants.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that the creative economy is playing an increasingly important role in the national economy. In 2024, the sector generated Rp1,611.2 trillion in added value, or approximately 7.28 percent of national GDP. Among its subsectors, culinary is one of the key strengths due to its direct connection with local raw material potential, culture, MSMEs, and job creation.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Also attending the activity were Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretary Suibun Anwar; Chairperson of the Aceh Tamiang Regional House of Representatives (DPRK), Fadlon; and Head of the Tourism, Creative Economy, Youth, and Sports Office of Aceh Tamiang Regency, Muhammad Farij.
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; Director of Culinary Romi Astuti; 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
