Goldfinch Stakes Claim in Indonesian Creative Economy With Government-Backed Venture (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I, being part of Goldfinch, the U.K. entertainment financier, am making strategic strides in Southeast Asia’s largest market, Indonesia. We’ve sealed a groundbreaking joint venture, paving the way for Goldfinch Indonesia’s grand entry. This momentous deal, announced in Jakarta, welcomes powerhouses Synco and Goshen Group to our team, as we aspire to revolutionize Indonesia’s creative industries.

This venture, overseen by Indonesia’s Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, represents a bold stride towards establishing the nation as a significant figure in the international media sphere. It entails a high-level cooperation with the Ministry of Creative Economy (EKRAF) aimed at transforming designated Economic Zones into vibrant centers for creative industries.

At the signing event, Minister Harsya emphasized that this partnership demonstrates our dedication to nurturing a thriving artistic market within Indonesia and using our rich cultural resources to fuel lasting development.

Goldfinch’s Chief Operating Officer, Phil McKenzie, underscored Goldfinch’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s aspirations within the creative sector. He highlighted their efforts towards establishing Indonesia as a leading player on a global scale in the creative field.

In Q2 of 2025, this project will launch its initial set of strategies, concentrating on debt funding, product creation, sales, and intellectual property (IP) expansion throughout the entertainment industry. An essential aspect is transferring Goldfinch’s award-winning First Flights program to Indonesia, which offers seed funding for up-and-coming filmmakers and fosters global collaborations.

The collaborative partners are heavily investing in the creative possibilities of Indonesia. “By working together, we can establish a prosperous environment that nurtures local talent and draws in international collaborations,” stated Rafael Utomo, managing director of Goldfinch Indonesia, alongside director Meidya, in a shared announcement.

Allan Jordan from Goshen Group, now taking on the role as Director at Goldfinch Indonesia, emphasized the broader economic impacts of the partnership: “I feel honored to be a part of this management team and play a pivotal role in fostering this joint venture. This initiative is instrumental in driving the growth of Indonesia’s creative economy, ultimately serving as an engine for economic expansion not just for Indonesia, but also for the surrounding region.

The move is part of Goldfinch’s wider global expansion plan, a venture that began in 2024 after a strategic merger with Singapore-based Aurora Media Holdings Inc. This partnership brings substantial financial resources to the table, as they have successfully closed $250 million across 300 deals over the last decade, achieving an internal rate of return of 11-13% on their institutional lending portfolio. They are also known for producing “Quant,” a title featured at the BFI London Film Festival, and “A Bird Flew In,” a selection at Raindance.

This step is part of Goldfinch’s broader global expansion strategy, which was launched in 2024 following a strategic merger with Aurora Media Holdings Inc., based in Singapore. With this partnership, they bring substantial financial resources to the table, having closed $250 million across 300 deals over the past decade, and maintaining an impressive internal rate of return of 11-13% on their institutional lending portfolio. They are also responsible for producing “Quant,” a film screened at the BFI London Film Festival, as well as “A Bird Flew In,” which was selected for Raindance.

Justin Deimen, who serves as managing partner at Goldfinch International and executive director of the Intercultural Theatre Institute, emphasized the need to:
1. Enhance media literacy and sustainable practices across diverse artistic communities within various nations,
2. Safeguard and conserve Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage,
3. Nurture and showcase Indonesia’s abundant creative potential on a global stage by fostering cross-border collaborations and skills sharing, and
4. Position Indonesia’s deep artistic talent pool for international success.

The partnership outlines several key initiatives, including:

  • Enhanced tax policies to attract investment through Goldfinch’s financing framework
  • Infrastructure development for IP-related projects spanning film, television, advertising, digital media, sports, gaming, Web3, and AI
  • Targeted job creation and talent development programs

Goldfinch’s recent action signifies another advance in their global growth plan, anticipating further collaborations in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) zones within the next few months.

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2025-02-19 10:46