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his year's exhibition of Indonesia's creative power in Jakarta signals a significant step towards the government's objective to shore up the creative industries.

The exhibition no longer only celebrates traditional handicrafts as products of cultural prowess, instead promoting products that showcase Indonesia's competitive edge.

More than 860 participants are taking part in Indonesian Creative Products Week (PPKI), which runs until June 28.

The event exhibits products from various creative fields including sophisticated textiles, avant-garde designs and technological innovations in robotics and virtual gaming.

At the official opening on Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and cabinet ministers observed a fire extinguishing robot created by students of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

The robot won a gold medal at a recent international robotics contest in San Francisco, and is able to detect fires automatically.

The president also saw an online combat game set in the ancient Indonesian Majapahit kingdom. The game was created by an Indonesian computer game developer.

"The creative industry is still growing despite the crisis," Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu told journalists at a press conference after the opening of the exhibition.

Creative industries, including small and micro entities and households, have contributed an average 8 percent annually to Indonesia's GDP between 2002 and 2008, Marie said.

Creative industries in Indonesia are divided into 14 sub-sectors, including animation, handicrafts, software and cinematography.

Previously, the government has concentrated mainly on providing assistance in the handicrafts sub-sector.

Fashion, handicrafts, music, films, computer services, architecture and interactive games have all made significant contributions to the economy, Marie said.

Creative industries also employ many people and have shown resilience to the financial crisis.

"Creative industries employ 7.4 million workers," Marie said.

Up to 250 small medium enterprises (SMEs) would promote their products though an international e-commerce network, free of charge, Marie said.

The enterprises would be assisted by the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) in cooperation with Alibaba.com and its exclusive partner, PT Sinarmas Multiartha.

"We will select the most qualified SMEs, in terms of products and business," NAFED chief Bachrul Chairi told reporters, adding that their products included food, handicrafts and design products.