RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Investment in the creative economy sector in the first quarter of 2026 reached IDR 11.33 trillion, with exports valued at USD 7.38 billion. The achievement reflects the sector’s growing contribution to the national economy.

House of Representatives Commission VII lawmaker Hendry Munief praised the sector’s performance, which has shown a positive trend from 2025 through the first half of 2026. However, he cautioned that investment and export growth must be balanced with the development of a healthy, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem for creative industry players.

“The growth of the creative economy is indeed very encouraging. But the important question is whether the ecosystem is also growing healthily and able to support the sustainability of creative actors,” Hendry said on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

At a Commission VII working meeting with Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, Hendry highlighted several challenges facing the sector. These include the rise of digital piracy, ranging from illegal streaming to the theft of paid content, which threatens the income of creative industry players.

He also pointed to the welfare of creative workers, who continue to face low wages, long working hours, and limited job security. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is another concern, as it is reshaping the creative industry in fields such as design, illustration, animation, and digital content production.

According to Hendry, collaboration between government, industry, and creative economy players is key to building an ecosystem that can drive economic growth while safeguarding the sustainability of creative professions in the future. (Misni Parjiati)