Tourism and Creative Economy Minister (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, alongside the Surakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), called on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Solo Raya to strengthen the creative economy sector. Speaking at the closing of the National Partnership for Tourism and Creative Economy Industry Supply Chain (Kenarok) event in Solo on Sunday, he discussed strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia's tourism and creative economy, especially in Solo. Minister Uno emphasized the importance of developing digital talent in the tourism and creative sectors. "We have initiated digital talent classes in Solo," he stated. He noted that Indonesia's travel tourism development index (TTDI) rose 10 places, from 32nd to 22nd globally, due to government programs prioritizing tourism-supportive policies. He highlighted that human resources (HR) are a key factor in tourism success. To bolster the tourism and creative economy industries, the ministry has launched the Kenarok program. Over the three-day Kenarok event in Solo, 70 cooperation agreements between MSMEs and major industries were established.
Chairman of the Surakarta Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Septha Indrianto, mentioned that to ensure the quality of MSME products in Solo, Kadin is developing the Surakarta Curation House. "We have trained curators to add higher value to products from Solo," he said. The Curation House aims to set quality standards for fashion, crafts, and culinary products. "New ventures will be given opportunities to showcase and promote, supporting Solo's vision as an inclusive and progressive city," he added. From these curation efforts, 51 local stalls participated in the Kenarok event. Ferry also highlighted the significance of local businesses in the supply chain, including collaborations between MSMEs and hotels, which are expected to boost the competitiveness of local products. "Our strategy is to form partnerships that recognize local products as valuable assets," he concluded.
