Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia must move beyond being a consumer of global content and strengthen its role as a producer and innovator in the digital creative economy, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday.
“We must no longer be merely consumers of global content. We must be producers, innovators, and shapers of the global digital creative landscape,” Arrmanatha said at the 5th World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) in Jakarta, citing growing global uncertainty that is reshaping trade and economic prospects.
Digital platforms have enabled Indonesian creators to reach international audiences, but much of the economic value generated by their work continues to flow to a small number of platforms, while creators in developing countries struggle to capture a fair share of the returns, he said.
Limited digital infrastructure and connectivity also constrain creators' access to global markets. Developing countries account for only about one-fifth of global creative services exports, Arrmanatha said.
“Many of our creators are still stuck behind a weak signal. Developing countries account for only one-fifth of global creative services export,” he stressed.
He also warned that artificial intelligence could disadvantage creators if their work is used to train AI systems without their consent or fair compensation.
AI could reduce costs and open new markets, but stronger intellectual property protections are needed to ensure that technological advances benefit creators, he said.
“An idea that is not protected is an idea that is given away. In the age of AI, this churns. This is truer than ever. Technology must serve creators, not replace them,” Arrmanatha said.
Indonesia launched the WCCE in 2018 as a platform for international dialogue on the creative economy. The forum has contributed to initiatives including the Bali Agenda for the Creative Economy and United Nations resolutions adopted in 2019 and 2023.
At this year's conference, Indonesia is seeking greater international cooperation to expand market access, strengthen protections for creative works and ensure that the benefits of the digital economy are shared more fairly, particularly among developing countries.
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Reporter: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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