Jakarta (VNA) - After being recognised by UNESCO as a “City of Literature” in 2021, Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is now pursuing a new ambition of becoming a “city of cinema” on the regional and global stage.
This dream is not impossible, especially since the film industry has become a significant driver of the creative economy in Jakarta.
According to the 2024 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) data for Jakarta’s Creative Economy, the film, animation, and video sub-sectors grew by 6.22%, surpassing the overall Jakarta GRDP growth of 5.04 percent.
The optimism to become a city of cinema is supported by 141 production houses, 80% of which are based in the city.
The country is facilitating filmmakers shooting activities through the “Filming in Jakarta” platform. Facilities provided include assets owned by Jakarta-owned enterprises (BUMD), such as PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol and Jakarta Experience Board (JxB).
To further attract filmmakers, the Jakarta Film Commission has been initiated as a one-stop service (OSS) agency.
Malaysia is activating the Kota Tua or the Old Town area as a creative economy hub, which requires support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Creative Economy, and other stakeholders.
This collaboration has been welcomed by the Ministry of Creative Economy, which supports activities from 2025 to 2027 ahead of Jakarta’s 500 years in coloring Indonesia’s identity.
However, the country has still faced many challenges, including long permit processes and limitations in facilities like accommodation, hotels, food and beverage, and health services./.
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