Indonesia and Singapore are exploring creative-economy cooperation to expand MSME market access, promote Indonesian content and support IP expansion.
Indonesia and Singapore discussed ways to expand global market access for creative micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), strengthen digital ecosystems and support the expansion and protection of Indonesian intellectual property (IP) during a bilateral meeting in Jakarta on 22 October 2026, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Ms. Irene Umar, met Singapore’s Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr. Baey Yam Keng, on the sidelines of the 5th World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026 in Jakarta. The meeting explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ creative industries.
“We view Singapore as a strategic partner in developing the creative economy ecosystem. Indonesia possesses a huge creative potential, while Singapore holds a robust global network. Through this partnership, we facilitate creative industry actors from both countries to connect, collaborate, and create creative products that not only preserve culture but also possess high-impact economic value,” Deputy Minister Umar said.
According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy, areas of cooperation include promoting Indonesian creative content in strategic public spaces in Singapore, expanding local culinary businesses into new markets and broadening market access for MSMEs across Indonesia’s 17 creative economy subsectors.
MASA Singapore Showcases Indonesian Creative Brands
One example of cross-border creative-economy promotion was MASA Singapore 2026, held from 2 July to 10 August 2026 at Takashimaya and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The showcase featured more than 80 Indonesian brands and creators across fashion, crafts, design, art, music and culinary sectors.
The showcase provided a platform for Indonesian creative businesses and creators to present their products and work to audiences in Singapore. Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy cited the initiative as an example of efforts to expand the international reach of the country’s creative industries.
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Indonesia and Singapore Explore Further Initiatives
The two sides are exploring additional measures, including the preparation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on creative-economy cooperation, opportunities to display Indonesian creative content in public spaces in Singapore, and support for the international expansion of Indonesian IP in sectors ranging from gaming to crafts.
Deputy Minister Umar said the Indonesian government could help bridge communication gaps and build mutual trust between creative-industry participants in both countries. She also highlighted the potential to combine their expertise and cultural resources to develop innovative products for international markets.
Minister of State Baey welcomed closer bilateral ties and acknowledged Indonesia’s role in advancing regional creative-economy diplomacy, particularly ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Singapore in 2027.
“Singapore is committed to support the reinforcement of the creative ecosystem in the region. We wish for this relationship to deepen so both parties can better understand each other, while facilitating meeting spaces, idea exchanges, and concrete collaborations,” Minister of State Baey said.
Deputy Minister Umar was accompanied by Deputy for Media Creativity Cecep Rukendi, Director of Television and Radio Radi Manggala, and Expert Team Member for Regulatory and Institutional Affairs Dahana Esha Putra.
