Tangerang Selatan, 20 April, 2026 – The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, stated that creativity is a personal asset for the younger generation amid the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Therefore, it is essential for youth to leverage this asset to build a sustainable creative economy ecosystem.
The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, served as a speaker at the 9th Asia Pacific Young Leaders Convention (APYLC) held at BINUS School Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, on Monday (April 20, 2026).
“The world is a game where we must become creators, not merely players. Do not wait for systems or others to change, but take control, use technologies such as AI as tools, and build human connections to create real solutions for the future of the world,” said the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy while speaking at the 9th Asia Pacific Young Leaders Convention (APYLC) at BINUS School Serpong on Monday (April 20).
Through the power of the creative economy, gamification, and community collaboration, young people are challenged to become changemakers who are able to bridge digital innovation with human values to create real solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable world.
The APYLC convention, themed “Root for Change: Feeding Minds, Healing Communities, Empowering Futures,” serves as a collaborative platform for high school students from four countries—Indonesia, Japan, China, and Singapore. The event focuses on enhancing leadership skills, cultural exchange, and building global connections through various exploratory activities.
Doc: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The Ministry of Creative Economy is committed to positioning Technology, E-sports, and Education as key pillars of future employment by strengthening local talent through strategic synergy between government and industry. The Deputy Minister’s presence aims to ensure that creative ideas do not stop at discussion, but transform into real solutions that are competitive in the global market, in line with the broader vision of positioning youth potential as the main driver of Indonesia’s digital economy.
“Young people do not only need to be heard, they need platforms so that their creative solutions can be implemented in real life. Often, the best teachers for all of us are the young,” said the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy.
The Ministry of Creative Economy, together with BINUS School Serpong, also collaborated to review the education ecosystem that supports future creative talent. This collaboration underscores that impactful change does not arise solely from ideas, but from the courage to explore new possibilities through concrete actions that empower students to compete globally.
Source: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“The presence of the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy has been a great inspiration for our students at APYLC. This aligns with the mission of BINUS School Serpong to nurture a generation capable of combining creativity with digital innovation to deliver tangible impact for communities and the future of the creative economy in the Asia Pacific,” said President of BINUS School Education, Michael Wijaya Hadipospito.
Active participation from delegations such as Changshu Lunhua Senior High School (China), Kaichi High School (Japan), and Nan Chiau High School (Singapore) was also appreciated. This cross-cultural interaction is expected to spark meaningful change with broad impact for the regional environment in the future.
The Ministry of Creative Economy continues to strengthen its commitment to nurturing globally competitive future leaders through synergy with BINUS School at the APYLC event. The government hopes this momentum will encourage the younger generation to integrate digital innovation with local values, in order to realize the creative economy as a pillar of inclusive and sustainable national transformation.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
