VOInews, Tashkent – Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, attended the *World Conference on Creative Economy* (WCCE) 2024 in Uzbekistan on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. This prestigious event provided a significant platform for him to promote Indonesian batik to international delegates, coinciding with the celebration of World Batik Day.
"Today, I am wearing batik to honor World Batik Day on October 2," Minister Sandiaga stated in his opening speech at the Boulevard Stage, Central Asian Expo, Uzbekistan. His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause from the attending delegates, highlighting the cultural significance of batik as a cherished Indonesian heritage.
World Batik Day is celebrated annually on October 2, following UNESCO's recognition of batik as an intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia in 2009. This occasion serves as a pivotal opportunity to introduce batik to a global audience, especially through international platforms such as the WCCE, thereby promoting Indonesia's rich cultural traditions worldwide.
The WCCE serves as a global forum that gathers stakeholders from various nations to discuss creative economy issues. "This conference has evolved into a global movement that unites diverse parties to advance the creative economy," Sandiaga explained. Indonesia has played a crucial role as an initiator of the WCCE, continually advocating for the creative economy as a driver of growth and inclusivity.
Minister Sandiaga emphasized the significance of the WCCE 2024 theme, *Inclusively Creative*. He asserted that this theme underscores the necessity for the creative economy to provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background. "The creative economy unites communities through economic and cultural development," he remarked, highlighting the potential for creativity to foster societal cohesion.
The Minister revealed Indonesia's substantial contribution to the national economy through the creative sector, stating that it accounts for approximately 8 percent of Indonesia's GDP, valued at around $93 billion. Furthermore, the creative sector plays a vital role in exports and provides employment opportunities for nearly 25 million people.
Minister Sandiaga expressed hope that the WCCE 2024, running until October 4, would bolster the role of the creative economy in fostering an inclusive and sustainable future. "Let us leverage the discussions at this conference to shape a creative economy that embraces diversity and equality," he concluded, reinforcing Indonesia's commitment to promoting its cultural heritage on the global stage.