Indonesia, Tencent strike three-year deal to develop local IP for global markets

Indonesia’s ministry of creative economy has signed a three-year agreement with Tencent to develop local intellectual property (IP), strengthen creative talent and expand opportunities for Indonesian creators in international markets.

The agreement was signed on 21 October during the fifth World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026 in Jakarta. It covers collaboration on local content development and commercialisation, digital infrastructure for the media and gaming industries, and the use of games to support the creative economy and digital communities.

Under the partnership, Indonesian stories and cultural heritage could be adapted into games, animated productions, series and other creative products through Tencent’s digital platforms and business ecosystem. The collaboration could also involve local writers and publishers in developing and adapting creative works.

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Indonesia’s minister of creative economy Teuku Riefky Harsya said the country’s creative output needed stronger commercialisation capabilities to translate its potential into greater economic value.

“Indonesian creators have immense creativity and innovation. The challenge is ensuring that this creativity generates greater economic value. That is why we need collaboration and best practices from global industry partners to strengthen the capabilities of creative industry players, not only in Jakarta but also across other regions,” he said.

Indonesia’s creative economy sector employs approximately 27.4 million people, according to the ministry. The partnership aims to strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness through collaboration with an international technology company.

Training, workshops and mentoring are among the proposed initiatives, with topics including game design, monetisation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity. Tencent will also explore opportunities to provide Indonesian studios with mentorship, access to its global network and potential publishing opportunities.

Gaming and eSports talent development will form another part of the collaboration, including talent development pathways and competitive activities. Games could also serve as a medium for showcasing Indonesian culture, bringing local creators and communities into projects with potential commercial and cultural reach.

Monrawee Ampolpittayanant, Tencent’s director of public affairs for Asia Pacific, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting Indonesian IP and talent through its businesses spanning gaming, digital entertainment, publishing, cloud computing and AI.

The two parties will now discuss implementation mechanisms and identify priority programmes for phased development, in line with the needs of Indonesia’s creative industry.

The announcement comes alongside WCCE 2026’s Creativillage exhibition, which runs from 21 to 25 October across three zones in Jakarta’s Sudirman Central Business District. The showcase brings together creative businesses, technology companies and industry organisations through product exhibitions, brand activations and interactive experiences.

Among the participants is local fashion brand FUGUKU, which is showcasing wearable art made from recycled polyester and using the jumputan technique, involving around 70 women artisans across Greater Jakarta.

Local game developer Running Train is also exhibiting its semi-arcade train simulator, which is set in Indonesia and Japan and features photorealistic visuals.

Creativillage is built around three pillars: showcase, collaboration and promotion. Its organisers aim to connect creative businesses with potential investors and strategic partners, turning exposure into commercial opportunities and longer-term economic value.

The exhibition runs alongside the main WCCE conference from 21 to 23 October, with WCCE Weekland scheduled for 24 and 25 October. The wider programme reflects Indonesia’s efforts to connect local creative businesses with international markets, partners and audiences.

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