Surabaya, 7 November 2025 — The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency successfully recorded a potential financing value of IDR 5.3 billion through the Islamic Creative Economy Founders Fund (ICEFF) 2025 in Surabaya. The program, which brought together 50 creative economy players from various subsectors, marks a strategic step toward strengthening an inclusive and sustainable sharia-compliant financing ecosystem, directly connecting creators with Islamic financial institutions.
Deputi Pengembangan Strategis Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif, Cecep Rukendi, memberi sambutan pada Islamic Creative Economy Founders Fund (ICEFF) 2025, Surabaya, Jumat (7/11/2025).
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya expressed appreciation for the implementation of ICEFF, which serves as a platform for creative entrepreneurs to develop their business potential ethically and competitively.
“Programs like this are essential to strengthening sharia-based creative financing. The creative economy is not only about business but also about sustainability, values, and blessings that benefit society at large,” said the Minister.
The ICEFF 2025 Bootcamp and Pitching was held on 5–7 November 2025. The program serves as a concrete effort to build a strong creative economy ecosystem and to enhance the spirit of sharia entrepreneurship through cross-sector collaboration. Its implementation adopts a hexahelix approach to strengthen synergy among creative actors, Islamic financial institutions, academia, communities, media, and government.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development, Cecep Rukendi, emphasized that strengthening sharia-based financing is a key factor in driving national creative economy growth.
“The number of workers in the creative economy sector reached 26.5 million in 2024 and is expected to increase to 27.7 million by 2029. Investment in this sector also shows a positive trend, rising from IDR 138.4 trillion in 2024 to a projected IDR 183.7 trillion in 2029,” Cecep noted.
According to him, a creative ecosystem grounded in ethical and equitable values has significant potential to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Director of Financing Access Development, Funding, and Investment, Anggaran Hayun Anujuprana, added that ICEFF serves as an important momentum to strengthen collaboration between creative industry players and Islamic financing institutions.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“We hope this program expands financing opportunities for creative economy players, especially those working with sharia principles. Through ICEFF, we aim to ensure that creative entrepreneurs receive the support they need from financial institutions,” he said.
ICEFF Surabaya brought together creative economy players from subsectors including culinary, crafts, fashion, apps, animation, and product design. Participants received mentorship from professional trainers and the opportunity to pitch their business ideas directly to Islamic financing institutions.
During the three-day program, participants were guided by mentors from the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA) to prepare for pre-pitching sessions and receive support throughout the pitching process. Participants expressed enthusiasm for the bootcamp, noting its benefits in expanding their knowledge and networks with Islamic financial institutions.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
ICEFF 2025 Surabaya, attended by 50 creative economy practitioners across multiple subsectors, resulted in a successful achievement: securing IDR 5.3 billion in potential financing.
The ICEFF program is expected to become a concrete step in strengthening Indonesia’s creative economy ecosystem while positioning the sector as the new engine of growth for national economic development.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of the Communication Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
