Pekalongan, June 28, 2025 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar visited the Museum Batik Pekalongan in Central Java on Saturday, June 28, 2025. During the visit, the Deputy Minister met directly with local creative economy talents and reviewed the potential for developing the craft subsector based on cultural heritage.
In discussions with creative economy stakeholders, the Deputy Minister expressed her appreciation for the spirit and resilience of the Pekalongan people in preserving and advancing batik as both a cultural identity and a driving force of the local economy.
“In less than 24 hours here, I have already seen so much potential—from product quality and cultural preservation to environmentally friendly innovations,” Deputy Minister Irene said.
She emphasized the importance of sustainability in developing the creative economy ecosystem, citing initiatives such as the use of natural dyes and batik waste management.
“We must support innovations that are not only attractive to the market but also environmentally relevant and sustainable,” the Deputy Minister said.
The Museum Batik Pekalongan was officially opened on July 12, 2006, by Indonesia’s 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as part of the 59th National Cooperative Day celebration. The museum not only showcases the richness of Pekalongan batik but also houses collections from various regions across Indonesia.
One of the museum’s unique aspects is that it is managed by a cross-regional batik community to become a center for cultural preservation, an educational tourism destination, and an inclusive, accessible information hub for the public.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized the need for synergy between entrepreneurs, local governments, and relevant ministries in designing concrete follow-up actions after the visit.
“We cannot just come, have discussions, and then leave. There must be concrete follow-ups—starting from ecosystem mapping, provision of production spaces, to assistance in natural dye development and waste processing,” Deputy Minister Irene explained.
The Ministry of Creative Economy will continue to support capacity building and competitiveness for local creative economy talents as part of the new engine of growth —a new driver of national economic growth rooted in culture and innovation. This visit serves as a momentum for strengthening the creative economy ecosystem through collaborative and sustainable efforts.
The visit was attended by the Regional Secretary of Pekalongan Municipality, Nur Priyantomo; Chairman of the Batik Museum, Nurhayati Sinaga; heads of Pekalongan Regional Government Agency (Organisasi Perangkat Daerah/OPD); and local creative economy talents. The Deputy Minister Irene was accompanied by the Director for Architecture and Design, Sabar Norma Megawati Panjaitan.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
