Speaking during the commemoration of International Museum Day 2026 at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday, Zon said museums play a strategic role as centers of knowledge, reinforcers of national identity, and the foundation of the cultural economy.
"Museums must become places where cultural capital is developed into public value and economic value in a sustainable manner," he said.
Zon added that museums can help rebuild trust and strengthen social cohesion amid an increasingly fragmented world.
He also highlighted the government's success in repatriating 28,131 fossils and collection records of Eugene Dubois from the Netherlands in 2025.
The Ministry of Culture recorded 516 museums across Indonesia as of April 2026, while the government continues improving museum registration, digitalization, and service quality.
Zon also welcomed the Museum Passport initiative to encourage museum visits among younger generations.
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Translator: Ida, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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