Indonesia's Culture to Become Engine for Economy and Soft Power, Minister Fadli Zon Pushes

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon is strongly advocating for transforming Indonesia's rich cultural heritage from a mere legacy into a source of economic power and soft power on the global stage. Fadli conveyed this message at the launch of "Nusantara Rising: Indonesia Soft Power Initiative 'From Culture to Power'," organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the Jakarta Convention Center. He highlighted that Indonesia's vast and diverse cultural capital can serve as a wellspring of ideas, works, industries, and economic value. "We are, in fact, a superpower in the field of culture," he stated, emphasizing its immense potential. The Ministry of Culture is currently developing five art ecosystems through its National Talent Management program, encompassing performing arts, literature, film, music, and visual arts. Notably, Indonesian films now command around 67 percent of the domestic market share, and the government is actively supporting filmmakers by sending them to international film festivals to enhance global recognition. In the music sector, approximately 80 percent of Indonesians listen to domestic music, a testament to the popularity of works produced by Indonesian musicians, according to Minister Fadli. He further argued that by connecting cultural strength with the business world, academia, communities, media, government, and international partners, greater economic value can be generated. He positioned culture as a growth engine for the creative economy, encouraging its development as a foundation. The launch of "Nusantara Rising" is seen as aligning with this direction. Minister Fadli expressed his hope that this initiative will strengthen culture's position as a source for the creative economy and contribute to building Indonesia's influence on the international stage. Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya also elaborated on plans to link cultural wealth, talent, and creativity with global economic and soft power. Deputy Chairman of Kadin, Rahayu Saraswati, underscored culture's importance as a key capital for Indonesia to expand its economic influence abroad. Minister Fadli concluded by expressing his desire for cultural development to be directed as an investment that yields sustainable economic benefits, stating, "Culture is not a burden or a cost center, but rather a circular and sustainable investment." Source: VOI English