Government Accelerates Recovery in Sumatra, Ministry of Creative Economy Commits to Collective Recovery and Empowerment

Jakarta, 15 January 2026 — The Government continues to focus on accelerating post-disaster recovery in Sumatra. The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency is present through the Ekraf Peduli initiative, aimed at recovering together and rising with empowerment, as a reinforcement of the creativity-based socio-economic recovery dimension.

This commitment was manifested during the Coordination Meeting of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, 15 January 2026. The meeting opened with directions from the Chair of the Steering Committee and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK), Pratikno, who emphasized that the Government is not merely rebuilding to previous conditions, but is committed to building back better and more resilient in order to mitigate future disasters.

“Extra acceleration in the field of data management is crucial to enable data collection, updating, integration, access, interoperability, and utilization across ministries/agencies and regional governments in affected areas. The main objective is to establish a single data system with an integrated dashboard,” said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno.

The Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, then reaffirmed that the creative economy sector plays a strategic role in revitalizing community productivity in the post-disaster phase.

“Through Ekraf Peduli, we want to ensure that recovery is not only physical, but also revitalizes businesses, creativity, and the fighting spirit of communities, so that they can recover together and rise with empowerment,” said Minister Teuku Riefky.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency

During the rehabilitation phase, the Ministry of Creative Economy activates Ruang Kreatif Merah Putih and facilitates business literacy for affected creative economy actors, including access to financing, funding, and business mentoring. Other activities include digital content training for disaster recovery, strengthening local music, community cinema, creative educational games, and arts-based activities with communities and children.

Entering the reconstruction phase, programs are focused on strengthening production capacity and value added through craft training, local batik, embroidery and weaving, packaging design workshops, culinary training, ready-to-wear sewing training, and digital entrepreneurship development. Reconstruction efforts are also directed toward leveraging creativity in technology, media, culture, and design as drivers of medium-term economic recovery.

Based on BNPB data as of 5 January 2026, a total of 52 regencies/cities were affected by floods and landslides across three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Acceleration efforts are also carried out through data collection and validation of affected creative economy actors, alongside the strengthening of crisis communication channels and the mobilization of creative economy volunteers.

The meeting was also attended by the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, Development, and Regional Affairs Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, as well as ministers, deputy ministers, heads and deputy heads of agencies, and leaders of related institutions.

Also present were the Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf, the Governor of West Sumatra Mahyeldi Ansharullah, the Governor of North Sumatra Bobby Nasution, along with several mayors and regents from the three provinces.

Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency