KBRN, Bandung: Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon announced that Indonesia will propose around 500 new elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for UNESCO recognition, with 60 of them originating from West Java.

He made the statement during the “Bakti Negeri” event for artists and cultural practitioners at Gedung Sate, Bandung, West Java. The initiative aims to improve the welfare of cultural workers across Indonesia.

“Indonesia’s cultural wealth is unmatched globally. That’s why I call it not just diversity, but megadiversity,” Minister Fadli said in a press statement received by RRI on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

He highlighted Indonesia’s extraordinary cultural richness, encompassing 1,340 ethnic groups and 718 regional languages, representing roughly 10 percent of the world’s languages.

To date, Indonesia has registered 2,213 national-level ICH elements, with 16 already recognized by UNESCO. These include Wayang, Keris, Batik, Angklung, and more recently, Kolintang, Kebaya, and Reog Ponorogo.

Minister Fadli also emphasized the importance of leveraging cultural heritage as a driver of the creative economy. He noted that many countries have successfully harnessed culture as a form of soft power and a new economic force.

“We must position national culture as both an engine and a driver of growth. Culture is a powerful force that can propel the nation’s economy,” he stated.

The proposal to add 500 new ICH elements to UNESCO’s list is part of the Ministry of Culture’s priority program, as previously outlined by Director General of Cultural Protection and Traditions, Restu Gunawan, last month.

“In 2024, Indonesia had 2,213 ICH elements. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, this year we’ve added 514 more,” Restu said.

The government is also intensifying efforts to educate younger generations in preserving traditional arts and practices. Programs such as “Artists in Schools” and “Learning with the Maestro” have been successfully implemented.

Minister Fadli noted that the Ministry of Culture has disbursed IDR 465 billion in funding to more than 2,800 arts and cultural communities, most of which are based in West Java.

“We continue to strengthen programs like National Talent Management, Learning with the Maestro, Artists in Schools, and the Indonesiana Fund. Around IDR 465 billion has been distributed to over 2,800 cultural communities,” he said. (Annaila Syafa/Sri Wahyuni)