On May 19-21, 2023, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia held the Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023 event which was held in Semarang City, Central Java. This event was attended by 109 cities that had passed the random selection stage and were appointed as Creative Cities/Regencies in Indonesia.
One of the cities that actively participated in this event was Malang City, which through its Mayor, Mr. Drs. H. Sutiaji, together with creative economy stakeholders, has committed to realizing Malang as a Creative City based on Applications and Game Development through the KaTa Kreatif program. This program was first held in 2019 by the Indonesian Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF) and was then adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia in 2021.
In the Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023 event, the Malang City Government, through the Malang City Tourism and Culture Office, also participated by sending the Malang.Digital Team. The team consists of representatives from the Malang City Creative Economy Committee, the Singo Edan Malang Startup Community, and game developers in Malang. They showcased digital products from Malang City, games created by local developers, and various craft products from Malang MSMEs.
Malang City’s participation in this activity is real proof of the commitment of the Malang City Government and support from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in developing tourism and the creative economy in Indonesia. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has encouraged 109 regencies and cities in Indonesia to become creative cities through the creative city development program.
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, gave his full support to the Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023 event. He greatly appreciates the development of creative cities in Indonesia, because this can be a driver of creativity and innovation in the region. An example is Malang City, which has succeeded in developing 17 sub-sectors of the creative economy and becoming a locomotive for economic progress in Indonesia.
Sandiaga Uno hopes that the workshop participants in this event can become creative entrepreneurs who can encourage the growth of the creative economy in Indonesia. By involving various stakeholders and supporting the development of applications and game development, Malang City has become one of the centers of creativity and innovation in this field.
Through its participation in Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023, Malang City wants to further strengthen its position as a center for the development of creative games and applications. With the collaboration between the Malang City Government, the creative economy community, and local game developers, it is hoped that a strong synergy will be created to produce innovative products that can attract market interest both domestically and abroad.
In addition to being a place to promote and exhibit creative products, Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023 also holds various workshops and learning sessions aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of the participants. In this regard, Minister Sandiaga Uno hopes that this workshop can provide a deep understanding of the game industry and creative applications to participants so that they can become highly competitive creative entrepreneurs.
In line with the vision of the central government, the Malang City Government continues to strive to create an ecosystem that is conducive to the growth of the creative economy. These steps include involving various stakeholders in the development of the game and application industry, providing facilities and support to local developers, and establishing cooperation with educational institutions and creative communities.
The success of Malang City in developing the creative economy sector has inspired other regions in Indonesia. Many other cities and regencies have been inspired to adopt similar programs to advance the creative economy sector in their regions. Through Semarak Jejakk KaTa Kreatif 2023, it is hoped that collaboration between creative cities and regencies can be further strengthened and that mutually beneficial synergies can be created in developing the creative industry in Indonesia.
With the increasing development of the game and creative application industry in Malang City, it is hoped that new opportunities will open up for increasing tourism visits. Tourists will be interested in visiting Malang City not only to enjoy its natural beauty but also to experience the creative life that is developing in this city. This will have a positive impact on local economic growth and job creation in the creative economy sector.
As an effort to continue to encourage the growth of the game and creative application industry, the Malang City Government is also committed to continuing to improve digital infrastructure, strengthen internet connections, and provide training and mentoring to local developers. With this support, it is hoped that Malang City will increasingly develop into a center of innovation and creativity in the field of game applications and development, as well as provide significant contributions to the development of the creative economy at the national level.
The Malang City Government also realizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration in developing the game industry and creative applications. Therefore, they continue to establish partnerships with universities, research institutions, and technology companies to support each other and expand their network of cooperation. With this collaboration, it is hoped that better innovation will be created and the quality of products produced by local developers will be improved.
Letsplay Indonesia is an organization committed to providing an innovative and interactive learning approach through educational games or what is commonly known as Game-Based Learning. They believe that educational games are an effective way to engage students and help them develop the skills needed in the 21st century.
