Singapore, June 14, 2026 – The Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, officially inaugurated Sederhana Restaurant Singapore located in the Kampong Glam area. The presence of authentic Minangkabau cuisine in Singapore marks a strategic step to expand Indonesia’s culinary penetration into international markets while strengthening the culinary subsector as one of the key drivers of Indonesia’s creative economy.
The Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, together with the founder and owner of the Sederhana Restaurant chain, H. Bustamam, attended the inauguration ceremony of Sederhana Restaurant Singapore located in the Kampong Glam heritage area, Singapore, on Sunday (14/6/2026).
“The presence of Sederhana Restaurant in Singapore demonstrates that Indonesian brands are ready to compete in the international market without losing their cultural roots. For us, culinary is not merely food, but also an instrument of cultural diplomacy to introduce Indonesia to the world,” said the Minister at the Kampong Glam heritage area on Sunday (14/6).
Sederhana Restaurant Singapore, operated by PT Global Minang Ventura (GMV), is located at 738 North Bridge Road, Kampong Glam, one of the cultural and tourism destinations frequently visited by both local residents and international tourists. Prior to its official opening, the restaurant conducted a soft opening on May 29, 2026, and received positive responses from local residents as well as the Indonesian diaspora in Singapore.
Sederhana Restaurant is a pioneering Minangkabau culinary brand established in 1972, known for its authentic Minangkabau flavors, with a network of approximately 200 outlets. As the license holder and brand operator, GMV is currently expanding its international footprint through the opening of outlets in Singapore and will continue with another international outlet in Melbourne, Australia, located at 207 Queen Street.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The Minister stated that the international expansion of Sederhana Restaurant not only strengthens Indonesia’s culinary position globally but also creates opportunities for other creative economy actors and products to enter global supply chains and export markets.
“We want to see more Indonesian brands going global. Sederhana Restaurant demonstrates that Indonesian creative economy players are capable of expanding into international markets and serves as an example of how local intellectual property can grow into a global champion,” said the Minister.
The creative economy currently contributes approximately IDR 1,600 trillion to the national GDP. In 2025, creative economy exports reached USD 31.94 billion with investment realization of IDR 183.01 trillion. In this context, the culinary subsector serves as one of the key growth engines as well as a strategic instrument to introduce Indonesia’s identity to the world.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency and GMV has been established since 2025 through support for the expansion of Sederhana Restaurant’s international network. This support includes facilitating GMV’s participation in the Culinary Business Matching Program in Sydney, as well as assistance in business operations development and human resource capacity building for overseas expansion.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
President Director of PT Global Minang Ventura (GMV), Nova Dana Eka Putri, expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s support in strengthening the national creative economy ecosystem and opening pathways for Indonesian culinary brands to grow in international markets.
“The support and collaborative spirit provided by the Ministry of Creative Economy have been key factors for us in bringing Indonesian cuisine to the global stage while strengthening Indonesia’s position as a cultural and creative economy power. We believe this step contributes to culinary diplomacy, nation branding, and the global competitiveness of Indonesia’s creative economy,” said Nova.
The Kampong Glam area, now home to Sederhana Restaurant Singapore, holds historical significance in Indonesia’s culinary diplomacy. For nearly eight decades, the location has been known as Warung Pariaman, one of Indonesia’s culinary icons in Singapore that has served as a meeting point for people of different nations and generations.
“We warmly welcome the presence of Sederhana Restaurant Singapore in Kampong Glam. This area has a rich history and cultural heritage, including its connection to Warung Pariaman, which has long been part of the local community. The presence of Sederhana Restaurant continues that legacy while enriching the culinary diversity of Kampong Glam. We hope the restaurant will be successful and attract more visitors to this area,” said Member of the Singapore Parliament, Wan Rizal.
Also present at the event were Thomas Ardian Siregar, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore; H. Bustamam and Hajjah Fatimah, founders of Sederhana Restaurant and their family; Syed Abdillah Al Junaidi, partner of Sederhana Restaurant in Singapore; as well as other invited guests and dignitaries.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
