Ministry seeks stronger digital media industry

The Ministry of Creative Economy is actively pushing to strengthen Indonesia’s digital media industry within the national creative economy ecosystem, responding to the rise of artificial intelligence and the dominance of digital platforms. Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya detailed the initiative during a statement in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday, noting that media serves the vital function of connecting creative talent with the public, brands, investors, and broader markets.

Expanding the Scope of Indonesian Creative Sectors

Minister Harsya welcomed the inclusion of Standard Classification of Indonesian Business Fields (KBLI) 58120, which brings the publishing of print and digital newspapers under the ministry’s domain. According to the minister, this inclusion helps secure the long-term sustainability of the media business. The provided guidance targets business operations, product development, and human resource quality improvement, aiming to help the media industry generate a more substantial contribution to the national economy.

This push aligns with the Presidential Regulation on the 2026–2045 Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf), which serves as a policy reference for the next 20 years. The updated master plan expands the official scope of creative economy subsectors from 17 to 21 categories, incorporating artificial intelligence technology, digital content, content creators, live commerce, publishing, film, and advertising.

Did You Know? Within Indonesia’s creative economy, roughly 27.4 million people find employment, where millennials and Gen Z comprise 63 percent of personnel alongside a female demographic representation of 58 percent. In addition, this market sector generates 7.38 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), while international shipments account for roughly 12 percent of overall non-oil and gas foreign sales.

Ministry seeks stronger digital media industry
Photo: Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif Republik Indonesia

Jakarta Vision tackles global creator disparities

Beyond domestic policy, Harsya pointed to an imbalance in economic value distribution between content creators and major digital platforms. He stated that this disparity requires discussion at the international level. To tackle the issue, the government is championing the Jakarta Vision on Creative Economy—the outcome document from the 2026 World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE). Officials expect this document to form the foundational framework for a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.

The Jakarta Vision focuses on four core pillars: technology and digital transformation, sustainability, intellectual property and creative workers’ rights, and inclusivity and community empowerment. This international strategy mirrors broader national efforts, such as the commemorations during National Creative Economy Day (HEKRAFNAS) 2026 under the theme “Rekacipta Nusantara,” which aimed to connect creativity with industry, intellectual property with commercialization, and talent with the market.

Expert Insight: Integrating print and digital publishing codes like KBLI 58120 into a broader creative economy framework illustrates a regulatory shift. By coupling local workforce development with international advocacy at the United Nations, policymakers are attempting to build collective bargaining power against dominant global technology platforms.

KBLI 58120 shapes government media strategy

What role does KBLI 58120 play in the new media strategy?

The inclusion of Standard Classification of Indonesian Business Fields (KBLI) 58120 places print and digital newspaper publishing under the Ministry of Creative Economy’s domain. This classification enables the government to provide targeted guidance on business operations, product development, and human resource quality improvement to secure long-term media sustainability.

How does the 2026–2045 Creative Economy Master Plan change subsector classifications?

The Presidential Regulation on the 2026–2045 Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf) expands the total number of recognized creative economy subsectors from 17 to 21. The updated policy incorporates artificial intelligence technology, digital content, content creators, live commerce, publishing, film, and advertising.

What are the core pillars of the Jakarta Vision on Creative Economy?

Stemming from the 2026 World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE), the Jakarta Vision document highlights four core pillars: technology and digital transformation, sustainability, intellectual property and creative workers’ rights, and inclusivity and community empowerment.

How will international platforms respond to Indonesia’s push for equitable value distribution at the United Nations General Assembly?