MINISTER: CREATIVE INDUSTRY GROWTH MORE POSITIVE

Jakarta, June 18 (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said creative industry growth was increasingly becoming more positive, especially in the music and film sub-sectors whose domestic market was big.

"What is clear is its growth is positive. We will disclose the detailed figures later in the Indonesia Creative Product Fair (PPKI). We are optimistic its potential is big because the market is also big," she said at a press conference on PPKI here on Wednesday.

She said the contribution of creative industry to the Gross Domestic Product and employment was up and therefore the government would focus on encouraging its development.

"In 2009 the trade ministry has allocated Rp50 billion to Rp60 billion to develop the industry with all its activities," she said.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2002 to 2006 the industry's contribution to the GDP reached 6.28 percent worth Rp104.6 trillion and the industry could also absorb 5.4 million workers in the period.

In view of the country's diverse cultures the sector could become a driver of national economic growth.

Based upon its 2009-2025 creative industry blueprint, the government expects contribution from the sector to rise to nine to 11 percent.

In 2015 the government expects the number of businesses operating in the sector could reach 6.8 million or triple that of 2006.

The trade ministry plans to hold a convention on PPKI on June 25-27 to discuss strategies for action programs for the development of the industry.

During the event, an exhibition of creative products will also be held as well as art and cultural performance, seminars, dialgoues, symposiums and clinical consultations.

The creative industry economy is based on 14 sub-sectors namely advertising, publishing and printing, television and radio, films, video and photography, music, performance arts, architecture, designs, fashions, craftsmanship, art product market, interactive gaming, computer and software services, research and development.

During the PPKI event, convention will focus on discussing conditions and targets of development for six information and communication technology-based sub-sectors such as interactive gaming and software service.

"Other sub-sectors such as craftsmanship, fashion and others already have a lot of forums and therefore we wish to focus on the six sub-sectors," she said.