The 5th World Conference on Creative Economy
No: SP/WCCE/EN5/2026
Jakarta, October 21 2026 – Ministry of Creative Economy/Head of Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) Introduces the richness of Indonesia’s culinary and performing arts to 80 countries through the dinner banquet titled Soul of Indonesia at Akasta. Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), Jakarta. This dinner serves as a part of World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026) opening while showcasing the potential of gastrodiplomacy and cross-subsector collaboration within Indonesia's creative economy.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Welcome to Jakarta. Tonight, let us gather not only as colleagues, but as a part of global creative family whose believe that creativity possess a power to shape the economy, empowering the society, and telling a story that define the identity of Indonesia,” the Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, stated on Wednesday (10/21).
Soul of Indonesia combined culinary richness with eight cross-disciplinary artistic performances representing the cultural diversity of the Nusantara from Sabang to Merauke. This fusion of music, dance, theater, and audio-visual technology demonstrated the local creative industry's capacity to package traditions in a modern manner relevant to international markets, backed by the cultural capital of over 13,000 islands and 1,340 ethnic groups.
The Minister of Creative Economy emphasized that the power that creative economy holds is rooted from the ability to connect culture identity, local talents, and innovation in inclusive ecosystem to open up infestation opportunity as well as creating new job vacancies.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“More than entertainment, tonight’s experience reflects Indonesia’s ambition to collaborate, bringing together various talents, cultures, and creative energy to build something greater. This spirit forms the core of our creative economy, where collaboration among creative economy stakeholders constructs a stronger and more inclusive ecosystem,” the Minister of Creative Economy stated.
In line with this statement, the delegate representative from the Republic of Fiji appreciated Indonesia's cultural richness and evaluated that Indonesian art performances demonstrated the vastness of cultural diversity alongside the openness of its society. The experience of enjoying culinary dishes and witnessing the fusion of traditional theater with music and contemporary drama provided a new perspective on Indonesia beyond Jakarta.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Tonight’s performance shows how diverse and inclusive Indonesian culture is. I learnt a lot about Indonesia, including what is theater, performance arts, and contemporary music fusion with the richness of Indonesia’s tradition. It turns out that Indonesia is a very cosmopolitan and inclusive country,” Sachida Nand, Member of Parliament and Assistant Minister in the Republic of Fiji, expressed.
From a culinary perspective, delegates were served various Nusantara dishes, such as crackers (kerupuk) as the welcoming snack, Ikan Kalio and Rempeyek Tartar Semangka as the appetizer, Sate Maranggi and Tempe Bakar with Kailan Sauce as the main course, alongside Wingko Babat and Kunyit Asem Gembira with botanical aromatic touches as the dessert, complementing the dining experience in a signature Indonesian banquet.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Meanwhile, the eight performances enlivening Soul of Indonesia involved several musicians and art groups from various regions. The event opened with the melodious strains of Mario Ginanjar accompanied by pianist Haris Pranowo. It continued with the Akasta Raya musical performance involving Alffy Rev under the direction of director Gandung Siyamsyah. There was also the Saman Dance by Duta Saman Institute alongside dancers from the Aceh Pavilion, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), as well as The Legend of Roro Jonggrang presented by InJourney Destination Management.
The performance series proceeded with the Kijang Kencana wayang drama by Swargaloka, the Calon Arang musical theater produced by EKI Dance Company, and the Pagelaran Sabang Merauke ‘Hanya Indonesia yang Punya’ featuring singers Christine Tambunan and Alsant Nababan alongside 81 dancers. Musician Toton Caribo completed the evening performances of Soul of Indonesia.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
WCCE 2026 embodies the theme “Inclusively Creative: Collective Continuity.” The ambition to introduce Indonesian culture to the world stage was also reflected in the attire worn by the Minister of Creative Economy and the Patron of the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Ministry of Creative Economy, Adinda Yuanita, inspired by the series Gadis Kretek, an adaptation of the novel by Ratih Kumala. The series serves as an example of how literary works can be developed into cross-format creative products that reach international audiences, while introducing the richness of traditional waste textiles and attire of the Nusantara.
Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar; Ministry Secretary of Creative Economy/Chief Executive Secretary Dessy Ruhati; Deputy for Strategic Development of the Creative Economy Mohammed Ali Berawi; Deputy for Cultural Creativity and Design Yuke Sri Rahayu; Deputy for Media Creativity Cecep Rukendi; as well as line officials of eschelon I and II within the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The dinner reception was also attended by Special Presidential Staff for Creative Economy Yovie Widianto; Special Presidential Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation Mari Elka Pangestu; Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar; Deputy Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan; a line of Indonesian public figures such as Bayu Skak, Pandji Pragiwaksono, Putri Tanjung; founders of Butter Baby, Nick Burch and Henry Burch.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
For further information regarding WCCE, visit:
Website wcce.id and ekraf.go.id/news
Instagram @wcceid
Event deck ekr.af/wccegeneraldeck
Media kit ekr.af/mediakitwcce2026
