KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia’s creative economy contributed USD 13 billion in exports and employed 26.47 million people by mid-2025, as the Creative Economy Ministry strengthened programs to support innovation, capacity building, and global market access, Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya announced on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Jakarta.

“The creative economy is the new engine of growth, driving national economic development through ideas, innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Today, we celebrate the spirit of creativity as a new source of national strength," said Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya in a statement on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Jakarta, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Over the past year, the sector has shown strong performance despite the ongoing global economic recovery. Data from Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) indicate that creative economy exports reached USD 25.44 billion in 2024, accounting for more than 9 percent of the country’s total exports. By mid-2025, exports stood at around USD 13 billion, or 50 percent of the government’s 2025 target.

Investment in the sector also reflects a positive trend. By mid-2025, total investment in Indonesia’s creative economy reached IDR 90.12 trillion, or 66 percent of the national target, contributing roughly 9 percent to total national investment. This indicates growing investor confidence in Indonesia’s creative industry as a crisis-resilient and future-oriented sector.

The creative economy’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also grew, with a positive 5.69 percent increase in 2024. The sector absorbed 26.47 million workers, predominantly young people and women, surpassing the 2025 employment target of 25.55 million.

“Indonesia’s creative economy proves that creativity not only produces works but also opens opportunities and generates quality employment across the country,” Minister Riefky added.

The Ministry is committed to supporting capacity-building programs for creative economy players, expanding access to financing, and promoting exports to help regional creative enterprises reach global markets.

“Through the National Creative Economy Day 2025, the government encourages all creative players, communities, academics, private sector actors, and society at large to make creativity a core foundation for national development,” he concluded. ***