The Indonesian Ministry of Creative Economy reinforced its cooperation with France in the fields of fashion and craftsmanship through a joint residency program involving designers from both countries (29/7).

The initiative aims to enhance creative product exports, enable cross-cultural knowledge exchange, and improve the global competitiveness of Indonesian talent.

At the Indonesian–French Seminar on Fashion and Craftsmanship, held at the Institut Français d’Indonésie (IFI) in Jakarta, Vice Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar emphasized the importance of turning bilateral cooperation into tangible outcomes.

“We want collaborations like this not to stop at ceremonial levels or empty discourse. They must result in knowledge transfer, business opportunities, and a strengthened ecosystem that directly impacts creative industry players,” she said.

Residency Program Promotes Talent Exchange and Product Innovation

Vice Minister Umar stressed that international partnerships should create real benefits for industry stakeholders.

She highlighted a hexahelix approach, involving government, businesses, academia, communities, and media, as essential for expanding the reach and impact of transnational programs.

According to her, talent exchanges, collaborative workshops, and product co-creation are key to making fashion and craftsmanship subsectors new engines of economic growth and boosting Indonesia’s global creative standing.

Co-Creation as a Growth Strategy for Fashion and Craft

The Indonesia–France creative relationship gained momentum following President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit in May 2025.

During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, covering multiple creative subsectors including fashion, craft, design, film, and gaming.

A core component of the collaboration is the PINTU Incubation Platform, which now includes a Residency Program and Focus Week hosted in Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

These initiatives bring together creative talents from both countries in a shared working environment.

Cultural Diplomacy and Global Creative Ecosystem in Focus

French Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Fabien Penone, praised the creative sector as a powerful tool for diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding.

He stated that cultural collaboration is more than artistic expression, it is a strategic approach to building a more open, inclusive, and sustainable world.

“We believe that culture is not only a heritage but also a unifying force capable of creating new opportunities in global cooperation,” he said.

PINTU Incubator Becomes a Platform for International Creative Synergy

Soegianto Nagaria, Chairman of the Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival (JF3), highlighted the role of the PINTU program in nurturing collaboration between Indonesian and French designers and artisans.

He noted that direct participation in joint creative processes offers deeper experiences beyond mere exhibitions or product promotion.

“Through PINTU, we witness how collaboration can create concrete impact. Designers and artisans are not only showcasing works, but also networking, co-creating products, and sharing cultural values,” he said.

This initiative aligns with the Indonesian creative economy’s vision of using fashion and craftsmanship as pillars of cultural diplomacy and economic growth.

It also supports the priority agenda of “Sinergi Ekraf” in the national Asta Ekraf program, which encourages partnerships to build a competitive and interconnected creative business ecosystem.

PHOTO: KEMENPAREKRAF

This article was created with AI assistance.