As a province renowned for its strong tourism and art-based businesses, Bali has been told it must keep its creative industries alive to help the nation buffer the impacts of the ongoing global financial crisis.
The Trade Ministry's Director General of Foreign Trade, Diah Maulida, said Thursday that despite a decrease in the value of exports, by the end of this year Indonesia will have achieved a 2.5 percent growth in the economy while a large number of countries will have experience negative downturns.
Russia is anticipating negative growth of 6 percent while Singapore, Indonesia's closest neighbor, will suffer a 10 percent drop.
"By expanding its creative industries, Bali could help the nation reach such a target *2.5 percent*," Diah told a press conference on the sidelines of a three-day Foreign Trade Implementation Forum, which began Wednesday in Kuta.
Creative industries encompass 14 sectors, which are advertising, film production and photography, music, architecture, art, handicrafts, fashion, interactive gaming, entertainment, publishing and printing, computer based-service and software, television and radio and research and development.
"Bali has the potential to develop its handicraft, fashion and entertainment sectors," said Diah.
International markets, she said, required art-based accessories, especially for furbishing upcoming hotels and resorts.
"Countries in Africa and the Middle East are currently expanding their hotel businesses.
Those hotels need to be furnished and Bali is entirely capable of catering to that international market," she said.
To help the expanding creative sector, the government has agreed to provide assistance in funding, technology and marketing, Diah said.
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