Bekasi, 25 April, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, emphasized that cross-subsector collaboration is key to strengthening the creative economy, even among practitioners from diverse academic backgrounds. She delivered this message during her keynote speech at the graduation ceremony of Sekolah Tinggi Manajemen Labora held at Hotel Santika Bekasi, Saturday (April 25).
During her address, the Deputy Minister highlighted the vast potential of Indonesia’s creative industries, including the locally developed gaming sector, which has gained strong traction in international markets. She also introduced Ekrafhunt, a national database of creative economy players aimed at connecting creative talent with industry needs, particularly in marketing and management.
“Our country’s superpower lies in our culture, and that is something no one can take away from us. The challenge is how we transform it into sustainable economic strength. Indonesian creatives are very strong in producing works, but often need support in sales and management. In the spirit of collaboration and mutual cooperation, we encourage all stakeholders to complement one another,” she explained.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister underscored the important role of academia in advancing creative economy studies while ensuring their real-world application. She reminded graduates not to focus solely on academic credentials and networks, but to translate their knowledge into practical contributions that support economic development.
“We highly depend on academics to study and promote the impact of the creative economy. Knowledge gained on campus must not remain theoretical—it must be implemented after graduation,” she stressed.
Sekolah Tinggi Manajemen Labora, established in 1982, is a higher education institution focused on management studies. Its curriculum emphasizes analytical skills, leadership, entrepreneurship, and adaptive decision-making aligned with industry demands.
Through this event, the Ministry of Creative Economy aims to strengthen synergy between academia and industry, fostering human resources who are ready to contribute to the growth of Indonesia’s creative economy.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau of Communications
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
