Government to Issue Presidential Decree on the Creative Industry

In view of the fact that the creative industry was able to with stand crisis, the Government planned to introduce a Presidential Decree [Inpres] which stipulated the development of the creative industry whereby to ensure sustainability, as proposed with other related Minister Mari Elka Pangestu disclosed this on Friday [26/6] admidst staging on the third Indonesian Creative Product Fair [PPKI].

The PPKI Fair 3 was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono under the name of :”To Rest on Culture and Technology as Foundations of the Developments of Creative Industry” We are superior in terms of rich and diversified culture. Therefore, players of the creative industry, especially those based on culture should be given enough room and opportunity’”

Further Minister Mari Pangestu remarked, “the synergy between culture and technology will not only yield creative, competitive products of added value, but also open market opportunities at home and abroad. A touch of Indonesia’s colourful and diversified culture on products would yield added value, stronger attraction in the global market thanks to the Indonesian creative products which have their special characteristics and excellence not owned by International competitors”.

Quoting the President’s statement, Mari disclosed that in the past three years, Indonesia had been enhancing the growth of creative industry. Starting with the staging of Indonesian Cultural Products Fair 2007, in 2008 a blueprint of the creative industry was made this year of 2009 had been announced as Indonesian Creative Year 2009.
In tandem with the central Government, the regional Government in various cities like Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Solo, commitments had been made to support the development of the creative industry.

Big and Medium Business Still Significant
With the participation of the small-and-medium industry and micro-industry in the creative industry, the total contribution to national GDP in 2004 – 2008 had been trenghened to 8 percent such a condition reflected the significant contribution of small-medium business to the creative industry.

The business lines of the creative industry, which contributed dominantly to GDP were the sectors of fashion and handicraft, whilst those which contributed greatly were the sector of the design, advertising, music, film, computer services, interactive games, software’s, architecture and other activities which were information and technology.

Meanwhile in regard to the role of small and medium business in the creative industry, the Government, while implementing the Law of Electronic Transaction [TEI], were facilitating small and medium business to enable them making transaction by internet, i.e. on business-to-business basis [B to B]. Witnessed by the minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu, the National Board of Export Development [BPN] of the Ministry of Trade had signed mutual agreement with Sinar Mas Muliartha Tbk [SMMA] as executive partner Alibabas.com [a big trading company which run E-Commerce and was established in 1999] in the effort to support export marketing.

Through collaboration which initially were run on free-of-charge basis, it was expected that 250 small-and-medium Center [PDKM] and BPEN, would have easier and faster access to the global market without having to join any expo overseas, the head been of BPEN of the Ministry of Trade Bachrul Chairi stated.

Since 2008, Alibaba .com membership had been growing fast. The total 40 million members from 240 countries had been benefiting from Alibaba.com services to market their products, among which 250,000 members were from Indonesia.