World Conference on Creative Economy 2018 to be held in Bali in November 6-8

BEKRAF Chairman Triawan Munaf: Indonesia Must Be Eminent in the Creative Economy

JAKARTA,Indonesia,Sept. 28,2018 -- Indonesia must be eminent in the creative economy because this country has all the conditions required to be the winner,says Chairman of the Indonesian Agency for Creative Economy (BEKRAF),Triawan Munaf.

"Indonesia must be a leader,because we have everything,diversity," said Munaf in a press conference for the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2018,in JakartaonTuesday,September 25,2018.

The WCCE 2018 will be held at Nusa Dua,Bali,in November 6-8. This forum brings together around 1,500 Creative Economy actors,regulators from 100 countries,and academics. BEKRAF previously held WCCE Preparatory Meetings in Bandung,December 4-7,2017 and in Jakarta,May 2-4,2018.

Triawan Munaf said that the potential of a creative economy is extraordinary. He mentioned Tokopedia as an example of marketing non-natural resource-based products but creative products. "Tokopedia does not sell oil and gas," he said.

Tokopedia founder William Tanuwijaya,who was also present at the press conference,said that the company gains success because of the presence of creative people,mostly housewives and students. "This young generation will build creativity through the big brands they create," he said.

Through the WCCE in Bali,Munaf hopes that collaboration will be created between creative economic actors in Indonesia and their partners abroad. "WCCE is not an exhibition. This is a conference for open discussion. At this conference there will be many agreements,common understanding,and cooperation. We cannot reach success alone," said Triawan Munaf.

In the film industry,for instance,the Indonesian government opens the door for foreign investors. Triawan Munaf said the movie of Wiro Sableng is a movie whose production involves foreign investors.

"We open investment opportunities for foreign investors. The number of screens (cinemas) is up from 600 screens,to more than 1,000 screens today," Triawan said.

The WCCE Nusa Dua will also be very interesting because the founder of the "Creative Economy" term,John Howkins,will present as one of the speakers. John Howkins is the first person to introduce the term Creative Economy in his book entitled "The Creative Economy: How People Make Money from Ideas," which was published in 2001.

Other speakers who will present include movie and theater producers from Nigeria,Bolanle Austen-Peters and CEO of China Film Corporation,Le Kexi. While speakers from Indonesia include the Minister of Finance,Sri Mulyani and the founder and owner of Tokopedia,William Tanuwijaya.

The Walt Disney Company also plans to attend the WCCE in Nusa Dua. The entertainment company from the United States will take advantage of the WCCE moment to celebrate Mickey's 90th birthday.

The creative economy industry in Indonesia has been growing rapidly recently. In 2015 the creative economy contributed IDR 852 trillion or 7.38 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In 2016,it contributed IDR 922.58 trillion to theGDP and absorbed 13.47 percent of the workforce in the country. In 2017,the creative economy contributed IDR 990 trillion to theGDP and absorbed 17.4 percent of the workforce,and this year it is projected to contributeIDR 1,041 trillion to theGDP,absorbing 18.2 percent of the workforce.

The three main sub-sectors that support Indonesia's Creative Economy are culinary,fashion and crafts. Other creative economy sub-sectors recording good growth include animation movies and videos,visual communication designs,applications,and game development.