Jakarta, July 12, 2025 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, attended the “Reflective Reading with Ika Natassa” event held at Gramedia Jalma on Saturday, July 12, 2025, as a concrete form of government support for the publishing subsector, which serves as a backbone of the creative economy.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf - Wamenekraf Irene Umar hadiri ”Reflective Reading with Ika Natassa”, dorong penerbitan jadi sumber kreativitas ekonomi, Gramedia Jalma, Sabtu (12/7/2025).
Initiated by Gramedia Jalma, the event invited readers to engage in a more personal interaction, reflective discussions, and interactive experiences around Satine (2024) and The Architecture of Love (2016). The format offered a relaxed and in-depth dialogue space between the author and her readers.
“Events like this prove that public interest in reading remains strong. Today, this venue is filled with book lovers, showing that books, as a medium of knowledge, are still loved and needed,” said the Deputy Minister.
She emphasized that books in various formats, whether novels or comics, are a primary source of ideas and innovation across many creative sectors. One example is The Architecture of Love, which was adapted into a feature film and successfully drew more than one million viewers in 2024.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf.
“Books are the source of much creativity. Events like this are important to deepen appreciation for written works, broaden perspectives, and preserve the relevance of books amidst the surge of digital content,” she affirmed.
According to the Deputy Minister, the publishing subsector holds great potential as a driver of a sustainable creative economy. She expressed hope that literacy-focused activities like this will continue to be held to strengthen the connection between writers, publishers, and readers in cultivating a culture of literacy and creativity.
Also present at the event were author Ika Natassa and Director of Publishing and Photography, Iman Santosa.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
