Minister Encourages Semarang to Enter UNESCO Creative City Network

VIVA – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno visited Semarang in a series of Kelana Nusantara activities. From the discussion with various tourism stakeholders in the city, Minister Uno encourages Semarang to be included in the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN).

Currently, five cities in Indonesia have been selected for UCCN 2023, two of which are in Central Java, namely Solo and Salatiga with their respective creativity. For Semarang, fashion will be the city's theme in the network.

"There are five cities, namely Bitung, Bantul, Ponorogo, Salatiga, and Solo. Currently, we will encourage Semarang to enter as well. If Salatiga has the theme of Gastronomy, Solo crafts, and folk arts, then fashion for Semarang," Minister Uno stated at the Kelana Nusantara forum in the Old City area of Semarang, Thursday.

According to the minister, Semarang is advancing the creative industry. So, in the future it will be encouraged to become a creative city network.

"Semarang has chosen the fashion subsector, there is already a creative economy committee, regional regulation that will be processed soon, they are four or five steps ahead of the others. This is certainly an asset for Semarang to one day become part of the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN), which in the end we will bring the city and regency of Semarang to the world level," the minister explained.

His party supports Semarang to increase events that can also increase the growth of the creative industry through fashion and others.

"So, we will increase fashion-based events and facilitate licensing. This surely can generate our economy to be even stronger. Semarang's potential is extraordinary, and fashion was chosen because so many people work here and contribute 18 percent of the creative industry," he said.