Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno commended the role and contribution of the National Creative Economy Movement (Gekrafs) as a community organization actively involved in overseeing the development of the creative economy ecosystem in Indonesia. During the closing of the 5th National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) and National Gathering of Gekrafs 2024 at Hotel Sultan, Jakarta on Wednesday (27/3/2024), Menparekraf Sandiaga stated that the creative economy sector has been consistently growing in recent years. The contribution of the creative economy to the national GDP last year reached IDR 1,419 trillion, positioning Indonesia among the world's top three, alongside the United States and South Korea. Highlighting culinary, crafts, and fashion as the flagship sub-sectors, Menparekraf Sandiaga emphasized the need for a stronger role from Gekrafs, in collaboration with the government, to support the development of the country's creative economy.
Furthermore, in 2024, the targets for the achievements of the creative economy have increased. These include a value-added of IDR 1,347 trillion, exports of creative economy products amounting to USD 17.38 billion, and employment in the creative economy reaching 24.34 million people. Sandiaga expressed hope for continued enthusiasm, innovation, adaptation, and collaboration across the 14 other sub-sectors of the creative economy. During the event, Menparekraf Sandiaga also inaugurated the launch of Gekrafs Campus, established as a platform for communication, consultation, facilitation, incubation, and partnership for students and student activists integrated into the national creative movement. Through this program, Gekrafs aims to provide a deeper understanding of the creative economy to students across campuses nationwide. Sandiaga congratulated Gekrafs Campus, stating that it will infiltrate campuses with the virus of the creative economy.
