G20: The creative economy is the main engine of economic growth

the minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said that the creative economy became the main engine of economic growth that accelerated the recovery after the pandemic and created more job opportunities.

Following the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2022 at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, on Thursday (6/10/2022), he stated that Holding WCCE 2022 in Bali as part of the Indonesian G20 Presidency side event demonstrated Indonesia’s strong efforts to advance creative economy issues in global thinking.

WCCE 2022 is one of the tourism and creative economy related side events in the Indonesian G20 Presidency series.

WCCE 2022 is expected to have a huge impact on the community involved in the tourism industry and the creative economy.

“It is about harmonizing the relevance of the creative economy within the framework of the global economy”, according to the minister.

According to Sandiaga, the last two years have been an important time for the creative economy sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on them.

However, now the situation is starting to improve, and workers in the creative economy sector are picking up.

“This shows that the creative industry is growing rapidly and at the same time becomes a sign that the opportunities are wide open to reach the goal given by the president to support the creation of 4.4 million new employment opportunities in 2024,” he added.

The WCCE 2022 series themed “Inclusively Creative: A Global Recovery” includes three activities. The first is the WCCE Spotlight and WCCE Expo/Creativillage, which includes a creative exhibition, showcase, networking media and a global inspiration session on the creative economy sector. Secondly, the Meeting of Friends of the Creative Economy (FCE), which is a forum for discussion and debate between the national and world penta helices of the creative economy.

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Third, the Ministerial Meeting, which is a ministerial-level creative economy policy forum that will agree on the final document of the WCCE 2022.

Meanwhile, the subtopic will be divided into four. These are the Creative Economy for the Global Renaissance, Intellectual Property and the Rights of Creatives, Inclusion and the SDG Agenda, and the Future of the Creative Economy. All related parties will participate in the debate on these four topics.

“It is our duty to ensure that the creative economy is the main engine of economic growth. The ‘Bali Creative Economy Roadmap’, as a result of the WCCE 2022, will later become a guide for the world community to include the creative economy in global economic recovery plans”, he continued.

Opening the 3rd World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2022 at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, President Joko Widodo said that the work of the creative industry today easily transcends national borders. The creative industry is no longer a local product consumed by local people, but has become a global product that is easily enjoyed by people from all countries.

“When the world restricts the physical mobility of human beings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mobility of creative economy jobs keeps moving without transmitting COVID-19. The creative economy sector is relatively capable of surviving in the pandemic era compared to other sectors. Several sub-sectors of the creative economy, such as app and game developers, TV and radio, even grew significantly, driven by the significant increase in content consumption during the pandemic,” explained President Joko Widodo.

He was also confident that the creative economy in Indonesia and many other countries around the world will be the backbone of the economy in the future, which is getting stronger and is seen as an inclusive economic force.

«The creative economy can be a solution to improve people’s way of life in a broad and sustainable way, because it is capable of breaking down geographical, gender, race and economic boundaries. The creative economy is capable of becoming the main pillar to break inclusive economic growth, economic growth for all”, she added.

“It is about harmonizing the relevance of the creative economy within the framework of the global economy”

Indonesia, according to the President, will take a leading role in developing an inclusive creative economy ecosystem, fostering a greater role for the creative economy in global economic recovery.

“A thousand Penta Helix actors and creative economy policymakers gathered at the 3rd Edition of the Creative Economy World Conference, a global initiative that started in 2018 as a vehicle to promote an inclusive creative mission. I see that the topics covered in this conference are crucial and relevant. Economic revival, creative workers and intellectual property rights, inclusion and the SDG Agenda, as well as the future of the creative economy”, continued the president.

Innovation and creativity supported by a healthy and productive climate, as well as accompanied by adaptive policies, will foster the progress of a nation’s civilization.

“I hope that this 3rd World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) will produce the Bali Creative Economy Roadmap for Global Recovery, in order to accelerate an inclusive and sustainable national and global economic recovery process,” said the President. Joko Widodo.

Also attending the occasion were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi; the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Deputy Director of the Agency for Tourism and Creative Economy, Angela Tanoesoedibjo; the governor of Bali, Wayan Koster; and several officials of level I and II of the MOTCE.