RRI.CO.ID, Depok - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has emphasized the importance of positioning culture as one of the key drivers of Indonesia’s economic growth by advancing the cultural economy and cultural industries. He made the remarks during a media briefing in Depok, West Java, on Monday, 3 August 2026.

Fadli said Indonesia has significant potential to strengthen the contribution of its cultural sector to the national economy. According to him, culture should serve not only as a source of national identity but also as a sustainable driver of economic value and job creation.

“In addition to making culture our collective identity, it should also generate economic value and be developed into a cultural economy and a cultural industry, because that is essential,” Fadli said. He added that various cultural sectors have the potential to evolve into industries capable of delivering substantial economic benefits.

Fadli cited music, film, performing arts, visual arts, and literature as examples of cultural sectors with strong growth potential. “Music is part of the industry, along with film, represented here by Mr. Purwacaraka, performing arts, visual arts, and literature,” he said.

According to Fadli, these sectors should be developed in a more integrated manner to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness on the global stage. “Going forward, I believe we should make culture one of the engines of economic growth,” he added.

He also noted that Indonesia’s creative industry ecosystem has continued to expand in recent years. One indicator is the domestic film industry, which now accounts for approximately 67 percent of the national box office market, reflecting the growing competitiveness of Indonesian filmmakers.

Beyond film, Fadli said the national music industry has also recorded encouraging progress. Around 80 percent of Indonesians now primarily listen to music produced by local artists, a trend he described as evidence of growing public appreciation for domestic creative works and the sector’s strong economic potential.

Fadli also highlighted the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the creative industries. He said AI should be viewed as a supporting tool that enhances artistic quality and creativity rather than replacing human talent in the creative process.