Creative Economy as Major Driver of Global Economy Focus of APEC Workshop

Thepresidentpost.id - Bali, Indonesia - The discussion of the creative industry and its contribution to the national and global economy was discussed in depth at the APEC Workshop on Promoting Creative Industries in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Sharing of Best Practices, and Identifying Opportunities and Challenges.

The workshop, organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bali (16-17/10), was attended by speakers and participants in person and virtually, from several APEC Members (Economies) including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Peru, Japan, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong China, and the United States. The workshop was also attended by creative economy stakeholders and the academic community.

The workshop was opened by the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno, through a video recording emphasising that the rise of Indonesia's creative industry cannot be separated from the rapid development of digital technology. Collaboration between the government, private sector, academics needs to be strengthened to hone the potential and opportunities in the development of creative industries.

Director for Asia-Pacific and African Intra and Inter-regional Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Witjaksono Adji, said that Indonesia succeeded in including references to the creative industry in one of APEC's main documents, namely the Aotearoa Action Plan in 2021.  In this regard, APEC economies can continue to make creative economy issues a priority for APEC cooperation, including through the organisation of the Workshop in Bali.    

Furthermore, Deputy for Digital Economy and Creative Industry Development of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Muhammad Neil El Himam said that the creative economy sector has added value ranging from copyright to creativity, Efforts to encourage the mainstreaming of the creative economy as an alternative source for economic growth require deeper advocacy, especially in the face of disruptive technological advances.

In his presentation, Deputy for Tourism and Creative Economy of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Odo R.M. Manuhutu outlined the increasing role of the creative economy and MSMEs in Indonesia's economic recovery amid challenges and the Indonesian government's efforts to overcome them.

Several speakers from APEC Economies such as Thailand Creative Economy Agency and Director of Innovation of Ministry of Tourism of Peru, as well as UNCTAD representatives shared their respective information on the development of the global creative industry as well as the potential development of the creative industry for MSMEs and women actors especially in Peru and Thailand.

Private sector speakers from creative industry players such as Google Indonesia, Tokopedia, Traveloka, Music Securities, Boe Yiyun Technology and Greenway Asia Pacific also shared information and experiences about the opportunities gained from digital innovation, especially in terms of expanding access to global networks, access to finance, and networks for collaboration. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the creative industry continues to grow with the support of digital technology for the creation, marketing and distribution of products.

In the closing session, speakers and participants had an in-depth discussion in developing recommendations to advance the creative industry in the APEC region.

The organisation of this APEC Workshop aims to build capacity, especially in the utilisation of digital technology for the development of creative industries in the APEC region.