Jakarta, 16 November 2025 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency continues to promote the acceleration of sharia-based financing for creative economy actors through the Islamic Creative Economy Founders Fund (ICEFF) 2025, held in Makassar. The program, which features bootcamps and pitching sessions, is part of a strategy to strengthen the sharia business ecosystem and connect creative economy players with funding access. Notably, creative sector investment reached IDR 90.1 trillion in the first half of 2025.
Deputi Pengembangan Strategis Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif, Cecep Rukendi, memberi sambutan pada acara Islamic Creative Economy Founders Fund (ICEFF) 2025 di Swiss-Belinn Panakkukang, Makassar, Minggu (16/11/2025).
“The ICEFF program is vital for strengthening creative economy financing based on sharia principles. That is why the Ministry of Creative Economy facilitates creative economy actors across Indonesia through ICEFF 2025,” said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya.
ICEFF 2025 took place from 12-14 November 2025 at Swiss-Belinn Panakkukang, Makassar. Previously, the program was held in Depok, Bandung, and Surabaya. ICEFF serves as a platform to connect creative economy actors from various subsectors to develop their businesses through support from funding and sharia financial institutions.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif.
In his remarks, Deputy for Strategic Development of the Creative Economy Cecep Rukendi highlighted the positive growth trends in creative sector investment. This growth demonstrates optimism about Indonesia’s increasingly promising creative business climate for investors.
“Investment in the creative economy reached IDR 138.4 trillion in 2024. By 2029, we expect it could reach between IDR 152.3 trillion and IDR 183.7 trillion. Meanwhile, in the first semester of 2025, creative economy investment has already reached IDR 90.1 trillion. This underlines the strategic role of the creative economy as a key pillar of national economic growth,” added Deputy Cecep.
He also noted that the largest creative sector investments from 2024 to 2025 were concentrated in five provinces: DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Banten, and East Java. The four subsectors most attracting investors were applications, fashion, crafts, and culinary.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif.
Limited access to capital remains one of the main challenges faced by creative economy actors. Therefore, the Ministry of Creative Economy has organized ICEFF 2025 in collaboration with Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA), YukBisnis Indonesia, and sharia financial institutions.
At the event, Head of the South Sulawesi Culture and Tourism Office, Muhammad Arafah, expressed appreciation for Makassar being chosen as a venue for ICEFF 2025.
“It is a pride for South Sulawesi to host ICEFF 2025. We hope this program can be extended to other cities and regencies in South Sulawesi, beyond Makassar, as the province serves as the gateway to Eastern Indonesia outside Java. Additionally, the province is supported by a large population of around 9 million,” said Muhammad Arafah.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif.
Over the three days, ICEFF 2025 offered comprehensive materials, including guidance on integrating funding access with quality management to strengthen creative economy businesses, the seven foundational elements of business, five strategies to increase profit, integrated marketing, and the sharia business ecosystem. Participants also had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to sharia financial institutions.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
