Jakarta, May 7, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency discussed the development of creative entrepreneurship for students with The Asia Group through the Starbucks Creative Youth Entrepreneurship Program. Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar viewed the initiative as a learning platform that brings together creativity, entrepreneurship, and character building for the younger generation.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, received an audience with The Asia Group at the Ministry of Creative Economy Office, Jakarta, Thursday (7/5/2026).
“If there is an open call, perhaps it could be expanded further so the impact can be felt more broadly. That way, not only the students are involved, but also schools, mentors, and even parents. From there, healthy competition and greater exposure opportunities for the students’ works will emerge,” said the Deputy Minister during the audience held at Autograph Tower, Jakarta, Thursday (7/5).
The Starbucks Creative Youth Entrepreneurship Program is an annual initiative organized by Starbucks Indonesia in collaboration with Prestasi Junior Indonesia. The program engages senior high school and vocational school students in forming student companies through business mentoring, product development, and national-level competitions.
Beyond business development, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening branding, packaging, and visual merchandising aspects in the development of students’ creative products. According to her, the quality of local products must be supported by strong visual presentation in order to enhance competitiveness.
“Indonesia is very good at creating products, but often the branding and packaging are still lacking, making it difficult to compete more broadly. In today’s landscape, visuals are very important, from presentation and brand identity to how products are displayed,” said the Deputy Minister.
Documentation by Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The Deputy Minister further stated that students’ involvement in direct business practices could help them understand the creative industry as a future career and business opportunity. According to her, such experiences are essential in encouraging young people to explore ideas and develop creativity from an early age.
The Starbucks Creative Youth Entrepreneurship Program has involved thousands of students from various cities across Indonesia. Participants receive guidance from mentors and volunteers in developing business ideas based on sustainability, circular economy principles, and creative, collaborative business management.
Division Manager Corporate PR Communications Sustainability and Social Impact of Starbucks Indonesia, Kiki Mochamad Rizki, explained that the program was designed to provide students with real-life experience in building and running a business. According to him, participants are also introduced to financial literacy, teamwork, and professional business presentation skills.
Documentation by Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“We see that students not only learn how to create products, but also understand how to manage a business, work in teams, and professionally present their ideas. In fact, many participants have started helping their family businesses after joining the program,” said Kiki.
The audience highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government, industry, and educational institutions in building a creative entrepreneurship ecosystem for the younger generation. Through a practice-based and hands-on mentoring approach, the Ministry of Creative Economy hopes more students will be able to transform creativity into sustainable business opportunities in the future.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
