Indonesia taps regional talent to boost local game industry

Cirebon (ANTARA) - Indonesian Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya said the government was prioritizing the development of the domestic game industry through collaboration among developers and the utilization of regional talent to create creative products with economic value.

He said the industry continued to grow, encompassing digital games played on computers and mobile devices, as well as educational board games.

"The game industry has made remarkable progress. There are digital games played on Steam and mobile phones, as well as educational board games that have gained popularity," Riefky said in Cirebon, West Java, on Thursday.

According to Riefky, the industry's growth was reflected in the increasing number of digital game developers and board game creators producing innovative content.

He said opportunities to develop the industry were also available in regions such as Cirebon, where aspiring game developers needed platforms to hone their skills.

"We have also brought in game developers from Bandung to collaborate, giving aspiring game developers in Cirebon a platform to develop their potential," he said.

He expressed optimism that collaboration among developers would strengthen local talent while creating opportunities to produce original games from Cirebon for wider markets.

Beyond creating commercial products, the industry could also promote regional cultural heritage through stories, characters, and other creative elements incorporated into games, he said.

"Regions with well-developed creative economy talent usually have strong cultural roots," he said, adding that cultural wealth could inspire creative economy development by combining innovation, technology, and creativity.

According to Riefky, Cirebon and its surrounding areas have a rich cultural heritage, giving the region the potential to nurture creative talent capable of producing economically valuable products and services.

The development of the game industry and other creative economy subsectors, he said, should focus on creating sustainable business opportunities, generating employment, and contributing to regional gross domestic product (GDP).

He added that developing the game industry was part of broader efforts to strengthen the creative economy, in line with the government's push to establish new sources of national economic growth.

"This is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive that the creative economy is no longer merely a supporting sector but has become a new engine of national economic growth, with its development extending across various regions," he said.

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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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