Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – Malang City has successfully passed the final four stages of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) national selection. Entering the next stage, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenparekraf RI) and the UCCN National Selection Committee (Panselnas) team conducted a visitation or field visit to Malang City. The visitation of the UCCN Panselnas team and Kemenparekraf RI was received in the Mayor's Meeting Room, Malang City Hall, Wednesday (25/9/2024).
Acting Mayor of Malang Iwan Kurniawan, ST, MM said that Malang City has the Malang Creative Center (MCC), which is a place/home provided by the Malang City Government (Pemkot) for the community to be creative, increase positive creativity that contributes to the development of Malang City. Strengthened by the uniqueness of Malang City which focuses on human resources (HR), MCC becomes a shared home, an incubator where there is also knowledge transfer.
Iwan Kurniawan, who is also the Director of Planning, Evaluation and Information for Regional Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, said that MCC is extraordinary, how the government provides a forum or place for young people to be creative. So according to him, MCC will be an example that needs to be applied in other regions.
"Malang Creative Center consists of seven floors, from the first to the seventh floor filled with young people who are active in positive creativity that contributes to the development of Malang City. I see the structure, management or management carried out by young people, then their background, they have experience, both local, national and even international. Their extraordinary experiences become various programs, attractions and leverage of MCC so that MCC can run well," explained Iwan.
What is even more extraordinary is the commitment of the local government, in this case the Malang City Government, in addition to preparing the forum, also the operational and maintenance budget which is a local government service to provide guidance to increase the creativity of young people who can contribute to the development of Malang City.
"If we look at the activities, the economic growth in MCC with its events increases the original regional income. By presenting exhibition activities, visits from ministries, institutions and regions, this shows what MCC is like," he explained.
Iwan is also optimistic that Malang City is very worthy of entering the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). In addition, Iwan also revealed the interesting side and uniqueness of the mapping or arrangement of Malang Raya, that Malang Raya has shared its relationship with Malang City for business, services and education then for Malang Regency and Batu City for tourism.
"This is what is interesting about the arrangement of Malang Raya, so when talking about Malang City for services, business and what is very potential for creativity is universities where there are 74 universities. When talking about creativity, there is capacity building by the community or youth in Malang City, but there is also the creativity of students from all over Indonesia who also contribute, think and group to convey their uniqueness or conditions in their respective regions by having dialogues, discussions in that forum or other places. Likewise, the students convey some of the creative concepts carried out by students who study here to regions nationally," explained Iwan.
According to him, this is an extraordinary potential, exchange of ideas, collaboration, providing input on programs related to creativity and then bringing and bringing good things that will be implemented in their regions. "Our hope is that by entering the international stage, we can improve ourselves, of course we will become more professional with guidance, coaching on how international standards can be applied in Malang City," said Iwan.
Meanwhile, the UCCN Nomination Panselnas Team, Harry Waluyo conveyed how the creative economy is different from the conventional one. Because when individuals through their education gain skills, they do not look for jobs but create jobs. They provide easy networking where there is an exchange to achieve a win-win solution. "Not only existence, but at the level of best practice what can be given. Does Malang City have best practices that can be contributors to Indonesia and the world," he said.
Harry also expressed his appreciation for the arrangement of Malang Raya. "The proposal for a creative city, this does not mean that it does not involve other cities. Malang City with its human resources, Batu City and Malang Regency with their tourism. This is a good idea, there has been no interconnection like this. So let's prove it," he concluded.
The visitation activity will continue with a visit to Kayutangan Heritage Village, Malang Creative Center (MCC), one of the start-ups in Malang City, to the Singhasari Special Economic Zone as an International Partnership & Malang Raya Connectivity Partner. (yu/yon)
