TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is encouraging the development of creative industry particularly fashion to support the national economy, Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri has said. "The development of the fashion industry which belongs to the creative economy has a large potential to boost our economic growth in the future," he said after attending design competition "Fashion Paradise 2019" in Semarang, Central Java, Saturday.

The fashion industry is the second largest contributor in the creative economy sub-sector after cuisine, he noted.

The Indonesian human resources in the fashion sector are not inferior to those of other countries, he said.

Young designers from the domestic fashion industry took part in a fashion show held in Paris late last month.

"Of course, this boosts our optimism that the creative industry, particularly fashion, could develop and contribute to our economy," he said.

He was hopeful that the "Fashion Paradise 2019" will offer a good momentum to all sides to drive the creative industry, particularly the fashion sector.

"The government has upgraded job training centers in the past couple of years because they play an important role in encouraging the improvement of human resources' competency," he said.

The "Fashion Paradise 2019" is held every year as part of the efforts to develop the fashion industry, he said.

Kreasi Lintas Cipta President Director Eka Mutia Yuliandarin, who is also the project director of the "Fashion Paradise 2019" said Indonesian designers need a forum to become more creative and innovative in designing clothes and producing fashion products.

"Competent human resources must be managed and motivated to develop their creativity. Training and facility are of great significance to create quality designers," she said.

Competition in the fashion world is not just a matter of winning and losing but also an endeavor to rouse graduates undergoing training to show the guts to display their works used by professional models, she said.

ANTARA