JAKARTADAILY.ID – The prospective presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Ganjar Pranowo, has expressed his belief that the budget allocation for the Creative Economy in the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) can be increased to support the development of national creative economy practitioners and industries.
Speaking at the Road to Idea Fest event in Jakarta on August 31, 2023, Ganjar remarked, "(The Creative Economy budget allocation in the APBN) can certainly be increased."
Currently, the budget allocation for Tourism and Creative Economy stands at Rp 3.6 trillion, approximately 0.16 percent of the total APBN.
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According to Ganjar, one of the primary challenges faced by the strengthening of the Creative Economy Industry is government support for financing, as highlighted by input from creative economy practitioners. For instance, he pointed out the potential for developing national-scale events, given the success of events like Pestapora, but the common concern remains the same - the need for government support, particularly financial assistance.
Ganjar further outlined four additional solutions to fortify the national creative economy. Firstly, he stressed the importance of valuing the work of artists by enhancing education and raising awareness about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
"Secondly, we should simplify the licensing process, as it is currently quite complex," Ganjar emphasized.
The third solution, Ganjar proposed, is to establish a talent scouting program to discover creative talents in the country, which he believes are abundant.
"We need to create opportunities for them to shine globally, and this can be achieved through collaboration. We can send talented youths abroad for education or invite experts to mentor them and help them become true professionals," Ganjar suggested.
Lastly, Ganjar advocated for artists to serve as diplomats, with the goal of promoting Indonesia's creative economy on the global stage. He highlighted the remarkable talent of Indonesian artists who are revered worldwide, which could be leveraged not only for individual recognition but also to represent Indonesia on the international stage.
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"We have many world-class artists; why don't we capitalize on their global recognition? They are celebrated worldwide, and it can become a brand not only for them but also for our country. If we pull them into diplomacy, we can collaborate to convey the message of Indonesia to the world," Ganjar emphasized.
