Indonesia's Creative Economy Emerges as New Growth Engine

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia's creative economy has become a new engine of national economic growth. The statement was delivered during a press conference on Presidential Regulation No. 37 of 2026 on the 2026–2045 Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf) in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, said the sector has evolved beyond a supporting industry. It now serves as a key driver of Indonesia's economic growth through creativity and innovation.

He explained that the creative economy is built on creativity, intellectual property, culture, technology, and Indonesia's young talents. Those strengths continue to strengthen the country's competitiveness and long-term economic transformation.

Riefky also highlighted the sector's positive performance in investment, exports, and employment during 2025. Citing data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), he said all three indicators exceeded the government's targets.

"Currently, the creative economy is no longer a complementary sector but has become a main sector in national economic growth. We know that one of the new engines of national economic growth is the creative economy, which is based on creativity, intellectual property, culture, technology, and the talents of Indonesia's young people," he said.

According to BPS data, creative economy investment reached 134 percent of the 2025 target. The realized investment accounted for nearly 9.5 percent of Indonesia's total national investment realization.

Creative economy exports also reached 120 percent of the annual target, based on BPS data. The sector contributed 12 percent of Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports, the highest share recorded in five years.

Employment in the creative economy also surpassed the government's target, according to BPS. The sector employed 27.4 million workers, exceeding the target of 25.5 million people.

Indonesia expects the creative economy to strengthen sustainable and inclusive economic growth nationwide. The government also sees the sector as an important foundation for achieving Golden Indonesia 2045.