JAKARTA - The Ministry of Culture has emphasized that the cultural agenda must not stop at the ceremonial stage. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that the 23rd Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association (IPPA) in Yogyakarta in November 2026 must be used as a moment to "sell" Indonesia's position on the prehistoric map of the world. Not just as a host.
The statement was made by Fadli when he received a visit from IPPA in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. IPPA President Anggraeni said that the quadrennial conference with the theme "Tomorrow and Beyond" would be attended by around 700 participants from 40 Indo-Pacific countries.
Fadli welcomed the plan, but emphasized its strategic advantages. Concrete soft diplomacy. "We certainly support it. This can be part of the promotion of our culture, cultural or heritage tourism, especially with the discovery of the world's oldest rock art in South Sulawesi," said Fadli.
The government assesses that the IPPA forum can also help encourage the improvement of inclusive prehistoric education. Opening opportunities to increase the national and regional Human Development Index. Indonesia, according to the Ministry, also has an attraction as a center for prehistoric studies and archeology because of key findings. More than 60 percent of the findings of Homo erectus are said to come from Indonesia. Also the discovery of the oldest rock art in Leang Karampuang which is considered influential on the narrative of human history and migration.
The 23rd IPPA Congress was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, BRIN, and Gadjah Mada University, with a focus on prehistoric discussion of the Indo-Pacific region.
Accompanying Fadli in the meeting were, among others, the Director General of Cultural and Traditional Protection Restu Gunawan, the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, and the Expert Staff of the Minister for Inter-Institutional Relations Ismunandar. The Ministry said this support was to confirm Indonesia's strategic position as the epicenter of world culture as well as strengthening soft diplomacy based on culture.
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