Jakarta, April 17, 2025 – The Ministry of Creative Economy is exploring opportunities for collaboration with Saudi Arabia to further promote local products internationally. This planned cooperation represents a coordinated partnership effort in the creative economy sector.
Kemenekraf jajaki kolaborasi dengan Saudi-Indonesia Business Council untuk perluas pasar produk ekonomi kreatif Indonesia, Jakarta, Kamis (17/04/2025).
Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, stated during a meeting with the Saudi Arabia-Indonesia Business Council at the Film Pesona Indonesia Building, Jakarta, on Thursday, April 17, 2025, that the meeting was a strategic step to strengthen business relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
“This meeting marks the beginning of exploring potential collaboration in the creative economy sector between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. We believe that good bilateral relations will accelerate the development of the creative economy across various countries,” said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky.
Teuku Riefky added that collaboration between the two countries would align with the value chain set by the Ministry of Creative Economy.
“We have a value chain that spans creation, production, distribution, consumption, and conservation. This value chain will only work if we collaborate and stay focused. For instance, Saudi Arabia could support us in the consumption or distribution stage,” the Minister added.
Rian Syaf, Special Staff to the Minister for Strategic and Interagency Affairs, further explained that the collaboration is expected to be followed by efforts to expand cooperation, including encouraging the commercialization of creative economy products through a more inclusive creative economy.
“To strengthen the inclusive creative economy ecosystem, we can collaborate on infrastructure, marketing, incentives, intellectual property facilitation, and the protection of creative works. For the next five years, we will prioritize creative assets with unique value. The focus is on how local products can gain greater market penetration, particularly internationally,” said Rian Syaf.
Minister Teuku Riefky further stated, “Moving forward, we will prepare an MoU to ensure that all planned initiatives can be properly monitored and implemented.”
Communications Bureau of The Ministry of Creative Economy/ Creative Economy Agency
On this occasion, Cecep Rukendi, Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development, outlined four potential areas of collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
“Saudi Arabia is a lucrative market for Indonesian creative economy exports, particularly considering Hajj and Umrah activities. In the fashion subsector, there is potential for collaboration between designers from both countries through fashion shows or opening local brand outlets in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Indonesian halal culinary products—such as snacks, seasonings, and coffee—can be marketed in both countries. Finally, Indonesian handicrafts can be used for hotel interiors and facilities to add value during the Hajj and Umrah seasons,” Cecep explained.
The Saudi-Indonesia Business Council is one of 46 Saudi Foreign Business Councils formed and overseen by the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT). One of its objectives is to increase investment opportunities between the two countries within their respective business regions.
Ayman Bin Amin Sejiny, Chairman of the Saudi-Indonesia Business Council, stated that the meeting provided valuable insights from both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
“We are interested in investing in Indonesia. There is much more we can learn about the creative economy between our two nations,” said Ayman Bin Amin Sejiny.
Communications Bureau of The Ministry of Creative Economy/ Creative Economy Agency
Vice Chairman of the Saudi-Indonesia Business Council, Osama Kokandy, expressed support for the newly established Ministry of Creative Economy, which can now focus on developing various creative economy subsectors in Indonesia.
“Indonesia is an important country in Southeast Asia for Saudi Arabia. I am pleased to learn that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has been separated, as Indonesia’s creative economy has many aspects that are highly relevant to Saudi Arabia. This allows us to connect shared heritage and culture, such as film, fashion, photography, culinary arts, and music,” said Osama Kokandy.
Minister Teuku Riefky was accompanied at the meeting by Cecep Rukendi, Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development; Yuke Sri Rahayu, Deputy for Cultural and Design Creativity; Rian Syaf, Special Staff for Strategic Issues and Interagency Affairs; and Radi Manggala, Director of Marketing System Development and Institutional Relations.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy
