Sawala Budaya: Indonesia Prepares Indonesian Waves For Global Candidates

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon / DOK PHOTO IST

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that culture is Indonesia's most powerful diplomatic power.

This was conveyed by Fadli Zon when he opened Sawala Budaya at the National Museum, Thursday, November 6. He said it was time for Indonesia to appear as the world's main soft power player.

Indonesia is a megadiversity country. That is our greatest wealth. Culture can be the most powerful diplomatic tool to drive the creative industry and the national economy," said Fadli.

In the forum presenting the Indonesian Ambassadors, Fadli introduced the concept of Indonesian Waves waves of influence on Indonesian culture that must be felt globally, like the Korean Wave and the Japanese Wave.

To make it happen, he asked for more aggressive cultural diplomacy. The Ministry of Culture places UNESCO and Indonesian Cultural Houses (RBI) as locomotives.

Fadli highlighted two major steps that have been running with the Joint Nominations of Kebaya together with five Southeast Asian countries and the Kolintang Extension List with West African countries.

According to him, cross-border cooperation in cultural heritage can expand the reach of diplomacy as well as reinforce Indonesia's contribution to world civilization.

"We must be present as a nation that leads the narrative of global culture," he said.

Fadli also asked Indonesian representatives abroad to take full advantage of the potential for diaspora, museums, cultural festivals, culinary arts, and creative networks to strengthen Indonesia's image as the center of the archipelago civilization.

He then detailed seven major missions of cultural diplomacy, namely Mainstreaming culture in economic, social, and environmental agendas. Coordination of proposing cultural heritage to UNESCO. Facilitation of repatriation of historical objects belonging to Indonesia. activation and strengthening of RBI as soft power bases. Community-city development is based on cultural collaboration. Cultural investment cooperation, including museum revitalization and film production, music, arts and digitization of cultural assets and collaboration with world technology companies.

Fadli closed his directive with a firm message to the Ambassadors: don't be passive, don't wait.

"We have to read opportunities and execute them immediately. This is a constitutional mandate. Culture is not a diplomatic accessory. Culture is the nation's future," he concluded.