The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, through the Ministry's Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf), calls upon the Indonesian diaspora in Laos to actively promote the potential of tourism and the creative economy, especially the culinary industry, on the international stage. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, emphasizes the need for strong collaboration to showcase Indonesia's creative and culinary potential globally, involving various stakeholders, including the Indonesian diaspora abroad. Sandiaga aims to achieve a USD 27.53 billion export value for the creative economy by 2024 through strengthened synergy and collaboration, contributing to Indonesia's economic growth and benefiting its citizens. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the strong collaboration in Indonesia's creative economy sector has not only sustained but garnered positive responses from the international community.
Sandiaga Uno highlights Indonesia's position as the third-strongest player in the global creative economy, following the United States and South Korea, emphasizing the incredible added value of the sector. He sees an opportunity to promote Indonesia's culinary excellence, not only capturing the hearts of the people in Laos but resonating with global audiences. The presence of Indonesian restaurants in Laos is envisioned to boost the local economy among the diaspora, given the popularity of Indonesian cuisine abroad and its potential collaboration with local tastes. Sandiaga sees this as a part of advancing the "Indonesia Spice of the World" program, launched in 2022, aimed at promoting Indonesian cuisine and increasing spice exports globally. The program targets a USD 2 billion spice export value and the establishment of 4,000 Indonesian restaurants worldwide by 2024. Sandiaga Uno expresses optimism about the role of young entrepreneurs in revitalizing Indonesia's economy through the culinary industry and takes pride in Indonesia's potential to become a champion both domestically and internationally. This initiative aligns with the broader strategy to boost Indonesia's creative economy, particularly in the culinary domain, leveraging the rich and diverse offerings of Indonesian cuisine to enhance the nation's global presence and economic contributions.
