France, ASEAN Build Integrated Regional Creative Economy Network

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - France and ASEAN are moving toward a more integrated regional creative economy through the launch of Creative ASEAN- FRANCE in Jakarta, Thursday, 10 September 2026. The initiative seeks to connect 11 ASEAN member states and France through a shared framework that links creative talent, cultural institutions, markets, and professional networks.

French Ambassador to ASEAN, Fabien Penone, said Creative ASEAN represents more than a new cultural program, as it translates a political ambition to place culture and creative industries at the center of the France-ASEAN partnership. “Creative ASEAN is not a new cultural program, it is the implementation of a political ambition to place culture and creative industries at the heart of the France-ASEAN partnership and to make them shine at the regional level,” he said.

The initiative builds on the France-ASEAN partnership established in 2020, which covers political and security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. Penone said the ASEAN-France Fund, established in 2024, provides France and ASEAN member states with a dedicated instrument to develop regional initiatives responding to shared priorities, with Creative ASEAN among its key projects.

Creative ASEAN also aligns with the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025. The framework promotes a more integrated, inclusive, and sustainable creative economy while encouraging stronger coordination among governments, creative professionals, and other stakeholders.

Penone said Creative ASEAN will build on existing regional initiatives in areas such as film, music, photography, visual arts, and literature. “Creative ASEAN seeks to build on these existing dynamics, to connect them more systematically, and to give them greater regional visibility,” he said.

The initiative is structured around four main pillars: a shared regional label, a digital platform, cross-border mobility and artistic residencies, and flagship programs in all ASEAN member states. Through these mechanisms, creators will be able to develop projects across several countries, while professional exchanges will connect artists and industry players with new markets and regional networks.

Over its initial cycle, Creative ASEAN is expected to directly involve around 15 to 20 participants in artistic residencies and 25 to 40 professionals through industry exchanges. The program will prioritize future-oriented sectors including cinema, design, fashion, music, gaming, animation, immersive technology, and other cultural and creative fields.

Penone said the initiative is ultimately designed to connect people, territories, and markets while creating new opportunities for young creative professionals and encouraging innovation. “For us, Creative ASEAN marks a shift from cooperation between individual partners towards a more connected regional system from 11 to 1, as our logo suggests,” he said.