Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia is strengthening cooperation in the creative economy sector with the United States as part of the US–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, positioning the sector as a key driver of bilateral economic growth and digital collaboration.
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo agreed to expand cooperation in creative industries during a meeting in Jakarta. The discussion highlighted the increasing strategic role of the creative economy in bilateral relations.
The government reported that investment in Indonesia’s creative economy sector reached Rp183 trillion in 2025, while exports approached US$32 billion. The sector includes industries such as gaming, applications, film, animation, video, fashion, crafts, and culinary products.
Under the partnership framework, creative economy subsectors—particularly digital content, film, animation, and music—are being positioned as pillars of economic cooperation and people-to-people engagement. Through initiatives such as the “U.S. Business for Indonesia: Creative Economy Forum,” Indonesian stakeholders are connected with major U.S. companies including Netflix, Google, and Universal Pictures to explore co-production, content distribution, and joint investment opportunities.
Indonesia is also developing supporting ecosystems to accelerate growth. Projects such as BSD City’s D-HUB Special Economic Zone, Nongsa Digital Park in Batam, and collaborations with media and technology companies aim to strengthen the country’s position as a regional creative hub.
In the gaming sector, Indonesia sees opportunities for joint development of intellectual property based on local culture, supported by U.S. partners in global publishing and monetization. Meanwhile, the animation industry is expected to benefit from co-production partnerships, leveraging Indonesia’s rich storytelling potential.
The music sector is also being promoted as a tool for cultural diplomacy, with plans for joint concerts, festivals, and talent exchange programs between institutions in both countries.
The meeting will be followed by technical discussions involving relevant stakeholders from Indonesia and the United States, facilitated by Indonesian diplomatic missions, to translate the partnership into concrete collaboration projects. (*)
