Jadi Etalase Terdepan, Menbud Fadli Zon Haruskan Kota-Kota Sebagai Muka Budaya

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon (Doc. Kemenbud)

JAKARTA Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized the importance of culture being the main face of cities in Indonesia. He conveyed this in the Regional I Commissariat Conference of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (Muskomwil I APEKSI) in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Tuesday (29/4).

In front of more than 450 participants consisting of mayors, regents, and ranks of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), Fadli Zon emphasized that culture is not just a complement. He assessed that culture can become a new economic power through the creative industry and public-private cooperation.

"Tultry is not a burden. Culture can become a cultural economy, a cultural industry. The contribution is large, including in job creation. The issue of budget can be managed efficiently, even through a public-private partnership scheme," said Menbud Fadli Zon.

He also reminded that culture must be positioned in front, not behind the development of cities. According to him, developed countries place cultural and museum expressions as the main storefront, showing the nation's identity to the world.

"This is the first time in 79 years, Indonesia has a Ministry of Culture. This proves how President Prabowo pays great attention to the nation's cultural foundations. In the future, the power of culture will become a new direction for world development, even post-SDGs later," said Fadli.

Through cultural diversity, he believes that Indonesia has great unifying power. He called cultural wealth in the regions of West Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, Aceh, and North Sumatra a real example of national cultural potential that needs to be continuously empowered.

Fadli also encouraged cities in the Komwil I APEKSI region to join the Pusaka City network, which strengthens collaboration in cultural conservation between regions. There are still many cities that have not entered the Pusaka City network. This is a great opportunity for future cultural cooperation," he said.

On that occasion, the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon received the book Traces of Bung Usmar by Zinggara Hidayat. He then followed the procession of the inauguration of Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail in front of the Bukittinggi City DPRD, riding a wagon as a symbol of appreciation for local history.