Partnership pairs production with AI testing
The corridor follows commitments made at the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026. Its partners plan to broaden the use of artificial intelligence in creative work and establish a Creative Tech Sandbox at Singhasari, where creators and businesses can test AI and other emerging technologies.
Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said in a statement: "We want the commitments established during the WCCE to be translated into concrete partnerships that create meaningful economic opportunities."
Lokanima, a creative production center at Singhasari, signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesian and Indian industry partners to formalize the arrangement. Other signatories include Prodigi AI, LPP TVRI, Cinepolis, Xelta (MatchBest Group), Galleri5 India, Collective Studios (Collective Artists Network) and the creators of the Indonesian IP "Fun Cican."
A related collaboration announced by Collective Studios' Historyverse, Galleri5 and Singhasari will develop original Indonesian films and series, according to MediaBrief. The planned work draws on Indonesia's cultural heritage through mythology, fantasy, history and animation, pairing Indonesian talent with Collective Studios' original-IP development expertise and Galleri5's technology and production workflows developed in India.
The corridor partners aim to present joint projects at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai in 2027.
The studios and technology behind the effort
Lokanima is Singhasari's Animation and Film Factory, inaugurated in October 2022. The SEZ's official site describes it as Indonesia's largest animation and film center, with about 20 studios and 500 creators.
Galleri5 supplies AI tools for audiovisual production. MediaBrief reports that its flagship G5 AI Studio brings together more than 200 AI models, supporting tasks such as storyboarding, character and world design, animation, visual effects and cinematic video. The technology has been used in the production of more than 10,000 advertisements and videos.
Galleri5 also developed and deployed the AI filmmaking technology and production pipelines used for "Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh," which JioStar and Collective Media Network launched for Star Plus and JioHotstar, according to MediaBrief. It is now building workflows for Historyverse's theatrical projects, including "Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal" and "Krishna."
Bijay Selvaraj, deputy chief of mission at India's embassy in Indonesia, said the two countries could create collaborative opportunities and economic value by bringing Indonesian cultural storytelling together with India's audiovisual and technology capabilities.
India's ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, connected the corridor to the countries' centuries-old cultural links through the Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to MediaBrief, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described the new bilateral initiatives as a "golden chapter" in relations.
Singhasari's wider education role
Located in Malang, East Java, Singhasari is described by Firstpost as Indonesia's first special economic zone dedicated to the digital economy, technology and higher education.
The zone is also the planned location of IIM Bangalore's first international campus. India announced the project during Modi's July 2026 visit to Jakarta, following a memorandum of understanding between the institute and Singhasari SEZ.
According to Firstpost, the campus is expected to teach management, digital business, AI, entrepreneurship and leadership development, including MBA programs for professionals from across Southeast Asia.
Jobs, infrastructure and the digital economy
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said AI and digital technology could support knowledge-based economic growth and create jobs and skills in the creative sector. He also emphasized the need for supporting infrastructure, including data centers and semiconductor investments.
"AI is not merely a substitute for jobs. It is also a driver for the creation of new jobs and skills," Airlangga said.
Airlangga, who also chairs Indonesia's National Council for Special Economic Zones, said the country "does not intend to be a spectator or a mere consumer in the AI race," according to MediaBrief. He described special economic zones as a way to translate AI ambitions into productivity, skilled employment and new growth "on the path to 8 per cent."
Government projections value Indonesia's digital economy at $135 billion in 2026, with the potential to reach $366 billion by 2030. More than 235 million people in the country use the internet, providing a large domestic market for digital and creative services.
Indonesia is developing a National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap covering digital infrastructure, research and innovation, workforce development and responsible AI governance.
