Jakarta, 28 April, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency collaborated with TikTok Shop and Tokopedia to accelerate the digital transformation of business players through the Waktunya STARt x GENMATIC: Generasi Melek Teknologi program. The initiative was attended by 1,200 MSMEs from various regions across Indonesia.
The Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, received an audience with TikTok Tokopedia at the Office of the Ministry of Creative Economy, Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/4/2026).
The Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, emphasized that collaboration with digital platforms such as TikTok and Tokopedia aligns with the government’s mission to build an inclusive and equitable creative economy foundation.
“The missions of TikTok and Tokopedia are aligned with what we have been striving for. We want to ensure that the creative economy becomes the new engine of national economic growth, starting from the regions and not solely centered in major cities,” said the Minister of Creative Economy in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/4).
Teuku Riefky added that the program reflects the government’s commitment to expanding access and enhancing the capacity of creative economy players through the utilization of digital technology and the social commerce ecosystem. This approach also reinforces the creative economy as the new engine of national economic growth driven from the regions.
“We are not only focusing on major cities, but also on how creators, affiliates, and business players across regions can grow together through equitable orchestration, including outside Java,” he stressed.
Collaboration with digital platforms also accelerates the process from product discovery to purchase, while enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of local products in the digital market.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Senior Director of Tokopedia (TikTok Shop), Vonny Susamto, explained that the collaboration is rooted in the real challenges faced by local business players.
“Local Business Empowerment is designed to address various challenges, ranging from gaps in digital literacy and limited business capacity to market access. We are committed to delivering programs that are not only short-term, but also build a sustainable ecosystem,” said Vonny.
Through the Local Business Empowerment (LBE) initiative, TikTok and Tokopedia implement three main pillars. The first pillar, Waktunya STARt, focuses on capacity building through continuous training for MSMEs and creators. The program has reached various regions across Indonesia, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jambi, Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, West Java, DI Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi, with the support of 12 regional governments.
In aggregate, this collaboration has generated wide exposure with more than 200 publications in national and regional media, demonstrating that a partnership-based approach can expand inclusive access to the digital economy.
In addition, nationally, the training programs under the Waktunya STARt pillar have reached more than 3,500 MSMEs and affiliates, as well as approximately 3,000 students. More than 100 certified trainers have contributed to educating up to 45,000 sellers within the digital ecosystem.
The second pillar, Beli Lokal, is aimed at strengthening the exposure and competitiveness of domestic products through curation and sustained campaigns. To date, more than 20,221 stores have joined the program, achieving a 58% increase in sales.
Meanwhile, the third pillar, Lokal Mendunia, focuses on accelerating the expansion of Indonesian brands into the global market. More than 50 brands are currently in the international development pipeline, with several already entering Southeast Asian markets as an initial step toward global expansion.
The Head of Public Policy & Government Relations TikTok & Tokopedia–TikTok Shop, Hilmi Adrianto, emphasized the strength of the digital ecosystem in driving creative economy growth.
“With more than 160 million TikTok users in Indonesia and a high volume of content produced every minute, our platform serves as a strategic space for business players to accelerate both promotion and transactions. The integration of content and commerce has proven to significantly drive engagement and purchasing decisions,” explained Hilmi.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The meeting also discussed strengthening service innovation, including the development of TikTok Shop as a discovery e-commerce platform and TikTok Go, which expands connectivity with local businesses in the services and tourism sectors.
Also accompanying the Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency during the audience were the Deputy for Digital and Technology, Muhammad Neil El Himan; the Director of Digital Content, Yuana Rochma Astuti; and Expert Staff for Media Issues and Public Opinion, Hasbil Mustaqim Lubis.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
