Govt promotes animation industry

Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Acknowledging a growing demand for Indonesian talent in the U.S. animation industry, an Indonesian trade mission led by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu is currently in Los Angeles, California, to promote the industry.

"Indonesian people have exported their talent in animation to globally-known animation companies such as Walt Disney. We are committed to supporting this," Mari said in Los Angeles in a statement released Saturday.

Mari said her ministry, together with the Industry Ministry and the State Ministry for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, had been preparing a road map under the Indonesian Design Power initiative in order to promote and develop the country's creative industry.

Analysts have said the country's animation industry, which to some extent has benefited from the growing illegal trade in film and animation software, began to form an outsourcing animation network with the U.S. and Europe from the late 1990s.

Animation industries in other countries have also sought the expertise of Indonesian artists. Jakarta-based Castle Production has received animation project orders from countries including Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand and England.

Aside from promoting talent in the animation industry, Mari is also investigating the possibility of U.S.-based movie firms using Indonesia as part of their production base.

"California is the center of the creative world because it is home to the Hollywood film industry.

"We are exploring the possibility of the Hollywood film industry exploiting Indonesia's beautiful and unique landscape and also working with local companies, the number of which has grown quite significantly," she said.

"Los Angeles is one of the most important cities for business. And apart from expanding export potential and attracting investors, California is also an ideal place for promoting Indonesian tourism," she said.

During her visit to L.A., Mari led a business forum that was attended by approximately 150 businesspeople from California and several Indonesian businesspeople.

According to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), in the first quarter of 2007 there were 12 investment projects taking place in Indonesia involving U.S. investors, with a total estimated value of $106 million.

During the forum, the minister also held several meetings with potential investors while several members of the Indonesian delegation, most of whom were from private firms, held meetings with U.S. business players.