Yasmi Adriansyah, Geneva
The various labels -- creative, content, copyright-based and cultural industries -- while to some extent have different meanings, generally share one thing in common. They are all industries which are generated with human creativity.
In Indonesia, the most widely used terminology used to describe these fields is the "creative industries". Surprisingly, more and more state officials (including ministers) have become familiar with, if not assertively campaigning for them.
This phenomenon is indeed encouraging. Not only does this bode well for the national economy, but is also believed to help boost the Indonesia's international image.
The power of creative industries has been recognized increasingly in recent years. This is one of the reasons why in October 2007, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) -- an international organization tasked to encourage global innovation and creativity -- convened the 1st WIPO International Conference on Intellectual Property and Creative Industries.
According to recent observations, contributions of these industries in countries surveyed by WIPO ranges broadly. On average, they contribute between five and 10 percent to either the economies' gross domestic product (GDP) or absorption of human resources. However, in some countries, such as the United States and the Philippines, the percentages were even higher.
Creative industries play a role in creating a positive image of countries. In the area of popular culture for example, many of us would know Shaggy, a Jamaican reggae singer, composer and producer. Because of his popularity, Jamaica's flag rises proudly on the world music stage. Shaggy is now not only regarded as a brand name for reggae, but also an ambassador for Jamaican music.
In the case of Indonesia, the power of creative industries are indeed encouraging. Based on studies carried out by the Trade Ministry (in 2007), the productivity of workers in these industries between 2002 and 2006 was up to Rp 19.5 million. This figure is in fact more than the average national productivity, which was less than Rp 18 million. Fashion and handicrafts were the two industries that contributed most to this.
In recent years, we have witnessed some other increases in creative industries in Indonesia. One of these was the emergence of Habiburrahaman El Shirazy and Andrea Hirata who were recently noted as extraordinary writers. The effect of their creativity has not only seduced the writing industry, but has multiplied into other sectors such as music and film. The movies Ayat-Ayat Cinta and Laskar Pelangi, based on novels of Shirazy and Hirata, respectively, gained overwhelming success.
The emergence of Shirazy and Hirata has not only contributed to growth of the creative industries, but has also played a significant role in boosting the country's international image. The novel Laskar Pelangi, for example, has been translated into a number of foreign languages, which just goes to show how appealing the novel is for international readers.
Put simply, creative industries in Indonesia are indeed a power. If handled with care, particularly in the area of protecting intellectual property rights (IPR), these industries will grow sustainably and become more momentous for the country's economy.
The notion of intellectual property rights protection for creative industries is indeed sine qua non for Indonesia. Without such protection, the industries may deviate in the middle of their departure to the "promised land", and trickle away from the prosperous Indonesia that we are all aiming for.
Embarking from the above-mentioned notion, it is now essential for Indonesia to become more aware of the importance of IPR. To some extent, we even should be more aware of the need for enforcement, which is commonly regarded as merely the game of developed countries. With the substantial growth of the creative industries in Indonesia, enforcement is indeed a necessary means. In other words, these industries need IPR protection. Full stop.
The writer is an Indonesian diplomat serving in Geneva, Switzerland. He can be reached at yasmi_adriansyah@hotmail.com
Source : The Jakarta Post, November 03, 2008
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