Bali expected to preserve creative industry

DENPASAR: As a province known for its strong tourism and art-based business, Bali was told to maintain its potential creative industry alive, to help the nation survive the ongoing global economic crisis.

Trade Ministry's Director General of Foreign Trade Diah Maulida said Thursday that despite a decreasing value in exports, Indonesia was expected to be in better economic shape than most countries.

By the end of this year, she said, Indonesia's economy would grow by 2.5 percent while a large number of countries would experience a negative growth.

"By developing its creative industry, Bali could help the nation reach such a *2.5 percent economy growth* target," Diah told a press conference, on the sidelines of a three-day Foreign Trade Implementation Forum held in Kuta, which started Wednesday.

The creative industry covers 14 sectors, namely advertisement, movie, video and photography, music, architecture, art and vintage markets, handicraft, fashion, interactive gaming, showbiz, publishing and printing, computer base-service and software, television and radio, as well as research and development.

"Bali has a good chance of developing its handicraft, fashion and showbiz potential," said Diah.

She further said the world market needed countries to export their art-based industry, especially to decorate their booming hotel and resort businesses. - JP