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THE MINISTRY of Tourism and Creative Economy is targeting the contribution of the creative economy sector, especially from the export side, to reach US$28 billion this year in order to encourage the creation of business opportunities and wider employment opportunities.
According to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno recently said, the added value of the creative economy (in) 2023 has reached IDR1,415 trillion, above the target of IDR1,300 trillion. But we have homework to do on the export value of the creative economy, where the opportunity is actually greater.
“The opportunity to increase the value of exports cannot be separated from the strengthening level of competitiveness of the creative economy products of Indonesian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) players. As achieved by the participants of the Indonesian Creation Appreciation (AKI) program, which is one of the flagship programs of the Tourism Ministry. Based on data collected by the Ministry, the turnover of AKI participants increased between 15 and 30%,” he said.
He explained that around 15-30% (increase in turnover) does not include export potential. Therefore, through this training resulting from collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Ministry of Trade, it is hoped that the participants will not only explore the domestic market but also become champions in foreign markets. So that it can support the target of achieving the export value of the creative economy in 2024.
“This training is expected to be a valuable investment for selected participants who are AKI alumni who want to enter the export market or increase their export operations,” Sandiaga noted.
Based on data from the Ministry of Trade, Indonesia’s trade balance throughout 2023 will cumulatively experience a surplus of US$36.93 billion. Likewise, the trade balance for the January 2024 period again recorded a surplus of US% 2.02 billion. This extends the surplus record since May 2020 or a surplus for 45 consecutive months.
“Indonesia has a huge surplus, but its commodities are still the ones that have dominated so far, not yet touched by our other products such as the creative economy such as culinary, crafts and fashion,” Sandiaga remarked.
He hopes that increasing the export value of creative economy products will have an impact on strengthening the economy and creating jobs for the community.
“Apart from the export of creative economy products and the added value of the creative economy, what is also most important is the job opportunities that we have to create up to 25 million jobs in the creative economy sector. And they (trainees/MSMEs) are the ones who will create jobs,” said Minister Sandiaga.
Regarding export destination countries, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy advised creative and creative economy actors to target non-traditional markets. Namely countries that have economic potential and are prospective to become market destinations for Indonesia, such as countries in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, South and Central Asia and the South Pacific.
“We have to diversify this so that there are markets that have not been touched, especially Africa, this is a market that has extraordinary opportunities as a market for creative economy products,” Sandiaga added.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Digital Economy and Creative Products at the Tourism Ministry, Muhammad Neil El Himam, said that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy wants to always provide facilitation to help develop the businesses of creative and creative businesses, especially AKI alumni, to a higher level, namely entering the international market.
The implementation of AKI over the past three years has gathered as many as 1,200 creative economy actors who are registered as AKI alumni.
“In general, this export class is a valuable investment for creative economy actors who want to enter the export market or increase their export operations. With the knowledge and skills gained, creative economy actors can make better business decisions and achieve success in their efforts to enter international markets,” Neil finished. [traveltext.id]
