By Sitaram Mewati – Mumbai
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organised an interactive session titled “The Jakarta–Mumbai Update (JaMU) 2026: The Creative Economy Value Chain – Monetizing Cultural Assets in the Global Food and Apparel Industry” at Hotel Sofitel, BKC, on June 25.
The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and cultural experts to explore opportunities for India–Indonesia collaboration in the creative economy, with a focus on food, fashion, gastronomy and innovation.
The programme was inaugurated by Indonesia’s Consul General Eddy Wardoyo, while recorded messages were delivered by Indonesia’s Minister of Creative Economy, the Minister of Trade and Jakarta Governor.
The summit featured presentations by Ajay Gopinath, founder of Rumah Kayu; Ajit Kumar Khare, Director of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai; Vishwas Deoskar, Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai; anthropologist Muhammad Arief Witjaksono of Universitas Indonesia; Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya; Sanjay Rodrigues, Founder and CEO of Phenomenal AI; gastronomy practitioner Ilvika Chandawarkar; chef Tius Faisal Martadinata; and Chef Salil Fadnis, President of the Western India Culinary Association.
The discussions were organised into three thematic sessions on lifestyle, innovation and gastro-monetisation, highlighting ways to transform cultural heritage into sustainable economic value. Speakers explored opportunities for collaboration in fashion, culinary tourism, artificial intelligence, design, museums and the wider creative industries.
The event also featured Indonesian cultural performances, networking sessions, an exhibition by JaMU 2026 participants and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Phenomenal AI and Singhasari Special Economic Zone in East Java, Indonesia. Organisers said the initiative had strengthened business and cultural ties between India and Indonesia while opening new avenues for collaboration across the creative economy value chain.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
