"Our ministry has declared seven sub-sectors of the creative economy as priorities, including culinary," he noted in a press release on Thursday.
Harsya stressed the importance of promoting Indonesia's cultural appeal through cuisine during a meeting with representatives of Restoran Sederhana Group at his Jakarta office on Wednesday.
"Learning that Restoran Sederhana seeks to go global, I am convinced this ambition will promote not only its brand but also our culture, ultimately advancing Indonesia's diplomacy on the world stage," he said.
Restoran Sederhana aims to bring Indonesian dishes — particularly specialties from West Sumatra — to wider audiences overseas, beginning with Germany and Australia.
Harsya welcomed the plan as strategic, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto's directive to grow the creative economy by creating jobs, attracting investment, boosting exports, and strengthening Indonesia’s GDP.
He pointed to opportunities for collaboration between the ministry and the restaurant group in areas such as database development, capacity-building, and intellectual property protection. He also called for stronger coordination across government institutions.
"Regarding intellectual property, we have cooperated with the Ministry of Law and signed an agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization. This ensures that Indonesian culinary brands receive global protection," Harsya affirmed.
He added that the ministry has also partnered with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further promote Indonesian cuisine as a tool of cultural diplomacy.
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Translator: Fitra A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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