Presidential Special Staff for Creative Economy Yovie Widianto visited Ponorogo Regency, welcomed directly by Ponorogo Regent Sugiri Sancoko and Deputy Regent Lisdyarita, Friday (04/25/2025).
Not only having a dialogue with artists and MSMEs, the former Kahitna band member also visited the 126-meter-high Reog Monument and Museum of Civilization (MRMP) in Sampung Village/District.
The Presidential Special Staff saw firsthand the process of installing the Reog statue puzzle from the 14th floor. Not only that, he also saw the arrangement of the residential area under the monument that had been faceoff by Regent Sugiri.
Presidential Special Staff for Creative Economy Yovie Widianto considers the existence of MRMP to be the epicenter of Reog culture and at the same time a driver of the creative ecosystem in Ponorogo.
“What is clear is that this is an extraordinary monument and a source of pride for local wisdom. Moreover, Reog Ponorogo has been recognized by UNESCO. If it becomes a monument, it could be a source of pride for Indonesia,” he said.
Yovie is optimistic that Ponorogo can be included in the Unesco creative city network. Not only that, in order to support the creative ecosystem in the City of Reog, his party will synergize with several Ministries to launch a program to develop the Creative Economy in Ponorogo.
“Of course, various ministries will work together. Among others, there are the Ministries of Tourism, Culture, even the private sector will be interested in seeing the great potential in Ponorogo,” he said.
Ponorogo Regent Sugiri Sancoko admitted that the regional government continues to strive to make Reog Ponorogo a locomotive for driving the economy. Various efforts have been made both nationally and internationally in order to prosper the people of Ponorogo.
“From the extraordinary culture of Reog Ponorogo, and the people with a high work ethic, you explore it to drive the economy in our region,” he concluded. *Man
