Acting Governor Of Gorontalo: Creative Economy Contributes To Drive GDP Growth

Illustration - Buyers make payments digitally using QRIS at the Pasar Minggu Traditional Market, Jakarta. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Gorontalo Province wants to develop a digital-based creative economy in the area to expand the market, improve product quality, and accelerate production and distribution processes.

"The use of digital technology is an absolute necessity," said Acting Governor of Gorontalo Rudy Salahuddin as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, October 6.

Rudy said that the creative economy sector continues to experience growth and has a strategic role in the national and regional economy.

Because the creative economy, he said, not only enriches local culture and heritage, but also contributes significantly to job creation, improves regional competitive data, and strengthens local identity in the eyes of the world.

"Gorontalo's creative economy has contributed to the growth of gross domestic product (GDP). Local products such as handicrafts, fashion, culinary, and digital products have won the attention of the national and international market," said Rudy.

In the midst of this proud achievement, Rudy emphasized the need for adaptation to change, especially in the fast-paced digital era.

According to him, the use of digital technology is an absolute necessity to expand the market, improve product quality, and accelerate the production and distribution process.

"Digitalization of the creative economy is not just about the use of sophisticated technology. More than that, digitalization is about how we create an inclusive ecosystem and can provide opportunities for all creative business actors," he said.

Menparekraf Sandiaga while visiting Ramadan Fair 2023 in Limboto Regency involving 200 MSMEs, said that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the locomotives capable of driving the economy, creating jobs and business opportunities.

The mainstay of creative economy products in Gorontalo is culinary and this is in accordance with the creative economy trend where culinary contributes 42 percent. Gorontalo has quite dominant culinary delights. The second is fashion, with kalawo motifs like this, fashion accounts for 18 percent of contributions to GDP and 15 percent of crafts," he said.

The speech also presented a number of resource persons, including the Director of Financing Access at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, and the management of the Central Dekranas, Yukako Badhi.