Investors Sets Its Eyes on Creative Industries, Association Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The business community welcomes the positive measure taken by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who wishes to further develop the creative industry, specifically by forming the Creative Economy Board. "We are very much aware that the potential investment opportunities in this sector is very large," said Thomas Lembong, Managing Partner for Qufat Management Investment Fund, during the '20-20 Investment Association' event in Jakarta on Monday, November 3, 2014.

Thomas said that the world's economy is undergoing a transition. Commodities such as palm and coal are declining in price. "This condition turns investor's eye from the commodities sector to the more potent creative industry sector," he said.

However, investors also hoped that the government pays extra attention to the infrastructure such as power plants, airports and harbors because in order to boost investments in the creative economy sector, the presence of a firm infrastructure is required.

The '20-20 Investment Association' is a non-profit organization in the finance industry that studies investment climates in developing countries. The members of the forum consists of 26 countries from Asia, Europe, America and Africa. Their annual event has been going on since 24 years ago, and in 2014, it is held in Indonesia.

Suryo Bambang Sulisto, Chairman of Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), said that the growth of the creative economy industry in Indonesia is a potential investment area. "Indonesia has a large domestic market and numerous talents in the creative economy sector," he said.

He added that the government should assist in developing this sector by providing incentives such as capital, tax reduction and regulations which support this sector. Without certainties, he feared that the talents will migrate to other countries.

 AMIRULLAH