Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Taufik Hidayat has expressed hopes that the 2025 Kasundan International Silat Camp (KISC) will serve as a solid foundation for the development of pencak silat, contributing positively to other aspects of national development.
“KISC can become a strong starting point, not only for pencak silat but also for regional economic growth,” Taufik said during a visit to the 2025 KISC event in Garut, West Java, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) in Jakarta on Friday.
Held at the RAA Adiwijaya Sports Center (SOR), the 2025 edition of KISC gathered over 50 participants from countries including Singapore, Australia, the United States, Japan, Russia, the Netherlands, France, and Indonesia.
The event is part of long-term efforts under the "Healthy Indonesia 2045" initiative and supports the "Pencak Silat Road to Olympic" program, aimed at bringing the traditional Indonesian martial art to the global sporting stage.
Taufik highlighted that pencak silat has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As such, it holds strategic value not only in terms of cultural preservation and athletic achievement but also as a driver of sport tourism with direct benefits for local economies.
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“This activity is not only about promoting sports culture, but also about stimulating economic activity,” he noted.
Taufik called for KISC to become an annual event with greater participation from both international practitioners and local communities. He emphasized that pencak silat should thrive not just in competition arenas but also as a cultural asset capable of generating economic value.
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“I hope pencak silat can make a tangible impact—not only as a form of training but as a tourism attraction that generates foreign exchange and creates job opportunities,” he said.
He also urged all segments of society to help preserve pencak silat as part of Indonesia’s national heritage while leveraging its potential to boost local economies through initiatives like KISC.
