RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, discussed the proposal for Bogor to be designated as a City of Gastronomy, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Minister Teuku Riefky also emphasized the urgency of strengthening Bogor's culinary scene to increase its recognition nationally and internationally.

"Certainly, Bogor's positioning or efforts to become a City of Gastronomy under the UCCN are worth pursuing. The report card required by UNESCO must meet the standards and criteria for its designation. Even if the local government has previously proposed a leading subsector, a reassessment or repositioning is possible, potentially shifting focus from performing arts to culinary arts," Minister Teuku Riefky stated during an audience with the Bogor Gastronomy City Forum held at Thamrin Nine, Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

On November 26, 2025, Bogor City agreed to recognize performing arts as a leading subsector. The agreement was outlined in the Minutes of the Independent Assessment of Indonesian Creative Regencies/Cities (PMK3I) and signed by the Mayor of Bogor, representatives of creative economy activists, academics, communities, and the Bogor City media.

"Let's discuss again with the Bogor Regional Government whether to shift to the gastronomy subsector or maintain the performing arts. Whatever the outcome, the Ministry of Creative Economy is ready to support the mentoring process so that the potential of the culinary subsector in Bogor can receive ecosystem strengthening and appropriate collaboration. Furthermore, opportunities to advance into the global creative city network will be even more open," he said.

Meanwhile, Special Staff to the Minister for Strategic and Inter-Agency Issues at the Ministry of Creative Economy, Rian Syaf, who also attended the hearing, stated that the Ministry of Creative Economy consistently identifies the potential of superior regional subsectors through the Independent Assessment of Indonesian Creative Regencies/Cities (PMK3I). According to him, the process towards international recognition requires systematic steps, starting from strengthening the status of a creative regency/city to meeting the standards set by UNESCO.

Referring to the UCCN application requirements, which were also agreed upon by the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO (KNIU), prospective UCCN members must have participated in the PMK3I (Indonesian Occupational Health and Safety Management System) in a field that aligns with the PMK3I results.

"So, each city or regency must go through a fairly lengthy process, from coordination and mentoring to selection. You can coordinate with the Directorate of Infrastructure Facilitation at the Ministry of Creative Economy so that efforts can be made towards UCCN. Comparing existing applications, culinary arts is not yet a primary supporting factor; it is only a key factor in supporting the performing arts ecosystem, as previously proposed," Rian Syaf conveyed.