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INDONESIAN Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, to discuss the development of a culture- and innovation-based creative economy.
During the meeting in Jakarta, Tuesday (04/14), 2026, Harsya stated that Indonesia and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing relationship built not only on diplomatic ties, but also on strong spiritual values, shared history and people-to-people connections.
“The relationship between Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia goes beyond formal diplomacy, rooted in spiritual values, shared history and a brotherhood that has endured across generations,” the minister said in his statement.
He added that the creative economy is a strategic sector for both countries in driving sustainable growth. Indonesia, with its 17 subsectors, continues to develop its cultural potential combined with modern innovation to generate new economic value.
“The creative economy is a key driver of the future. We believe the fusion of cultural heritage and innovation will create sustainable economic impact for both countries,” he explained.
During the meeting, Minister Harsya identified several strategic collaboration opportunities, including participation in the World Expo, strengthening the hajj and umrah ecosystem through creative products, talent and technology exchange, enhancement of intellectual property (IP) protection as well as collaboration in the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026 in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister Badr bin Abdullah expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding cross-sector collaboration in the creative industries.
“We look forward to strengthening collaboration in various fields, including expo, hajj, gaming and intellectual property. We also welcome the invitation to participate in the upcoming global forum in Jakarta,” he said.
Prince Badr also highlighted potential cooperation in film, fashion and talent development, including film production incentives and educational programs through arts institutions in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, strengthening the intellectual property ecosystem and local brand development initiatives were emphasized to enhance global competitiveness.
“In the film sector, Saudi Arabia is developing the industry comprehensively, from production to distribution, supported by various funding schemes. We offer opportunities for film co-production with incentives of up to 60–65% of production costs,” he remarked.
“In intellectual property, Saudi Arabia has established a dedicated authority to support the creative industry. The ‘Saudi 100 Brands’ program serves as an accelerator for local designers, alongside sustainable fashion initiatives, including eco-friendly ihram,” he added.
This cooperation is expected to strengthen the position of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia as strategic partners in the development of the global creative economy. [antaranews]
