Jakarta, July 14, 2026 – Vice Minister of Creative Economy/Vice Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, met with officials from the Jambi City Government to discuss strengthening the creative economy as a new engine of national economic growth starting from the regions. During the meeting, the Vice Minister emphasized the importance of local government initiatives in driving regional creative economy development.
Vice Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar receives officials from the Jambi City Government during an audience meeting at the Ministry of Creative Economy Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
"Sustainable national creative economy growth must be driven by local initiatives across the regions. We highly appreciate the commitment of the Jambi City Government to activating creative spaces, which hold strong potential to be further accelerated through the Creative Village and Creative Hub programs. The key to success now lies in accurately identifying the leading creative subsectors that will serve as the primary drivers of the local economy," said Vice Minister Irene Umar during the meeting at the Ministry of Creative Economy Office in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 14).
The meeting discussed several strategic initiatives, including the Youth Creative Movement, the second phase of the Diberanda Kota (DBK) program aimed at activating public spaces, and preparations for the inauguration of the Jambi Provincial chapter of the Creative Economy Movement (GEKRAF), which will focus on community-based waste management through the construction of neighborhood waste collection facilities (TPS). The discussion also covered the revitalization of Pasar Sijimat as well as the Kajang Lako Retention Pond environmental infrastructure project.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
"We need to carefully assess the economic potential of the Kajang Lako Retention Pond project to ensure its optimal utilization while maintaining safe water circulation for the surrounding environment. It is equally important to map the market assets that will be developed so they can evolve into multifunctional and dynamic creative ecosystems through sustainable activities," the Vice Minister added.
Deputy Mayor of Jambi, Diza Hazra Aljosha, explained that the city government is currently promoting a creative economy approach based on creative placemaking, utilizing public spaces as centers for creative activities, cultural expression, and entrepreneurship. Through dynamic cross-sector collaboration, this approach is expected to revitalize urban spaces, strengthen local identity, and create new business opportunities for young people and MSMEs.
"We sincerely appreciate the Ministry of Creative Economy's openness in exploring collaboration to elevate Jambi City's local potential to a higher level. We hope the programs we have presented today can be translated into concrete collaborative initiatives with the Ministry," said Diza Hazra Aljosha.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Jambi City possesses significant creative economy potential through its authentic culinary heritage, distinctive Jambi batik craftsmanship, and a vibrant ecosystem of creative spaces and cultural festivals. Strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Creative Economy is therefore essential to maximize the development of these local strengths and enhance their competitiveness at both the national and global levels.
Accompanying the Vice Minister during the meeting were Special Advisor for Creative Economy Ecosystem Strengthening and Data, Jago Anggara; Director of Infrastructure Facilitation, Fahmy Akmal; and Expert Team Member for Regulatory and Institutional Affairs, Dahana Esha Putra.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
