Jakarta (ANTARA) – Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya sees international film productions in Indonesia as a potential driver of economic growth and investment in the creative sector.According to him, film production creates jobs for local workers while benefiting related sectors, including hospitality, culinary services, transportation, logistics, MSMEs, and tourism.”We want Indonesian culture, nature, production teams, and talent to collaborate more extensively; such collaboration not only promotes Indonesia but also facilitates knowledge and technology transfer, along with other elements that support the Indonesian film industry as a form of international diplomacy,” Harsya said in a statement on Monday.He conveyed the statement during his visit to the set of international film Happy Eyes at Taman Safari Indonesia in Cisarua, Bogor, on August 7.The film is a co-production between France's Moana Films and Indonesian studio Jungle Run Productions.Harsya said film production benefits sectors beyond the film industry itself, as demand for accommodation, food, transportation, logistics, and other support services generates economic activity in filming locations.Beyond immediate impacts during production, international films offer long-term benefits by promoting Indonesian destinations, where featured locations can become new tourist attractions once movies are released.Therefore, the government continues to facilitate international film productions by streamlining processes such as permits, visas, and the import and export of production equipment.The minister added that such facilitation is crucial to making Indonesia a more attractive filming destination and drawing foreign direct investment (FDI) into the film industry.Filming for Happy Eyes spans 40 production days in Indonesia, with Taman Safari Bogor and Tanjung Lesung in Banten serving as primary locations.The production involves a crew of roughly 40 foreign and 180 Indonesian members.Happy Eyes Executive Producer Joe Yaggi stated that approximately 70 percent of the total crew of over 200 people were Indonesian.According to Yaggi, involving local crew members provides opportunities to enhance the skills of Indonesian creative professionals, enabling them to meet international production standards.”The French crew really enjoyed working with our team; they were very impressed by them. I hope to see more films like this, as our crew is capable of working at an international level,” Yaggi said.With its rich natural landscapes, cultural heritage, biodiversity, and growing pool of local talent, Indonesia aims to attract more international film productions to strengthen the domestic film industry while generating multi-sector economic benefits.