The Governor of West Kalimantan, Drs. H. Ria Norsan, M.M., M.H., officially flagged off participants in the West Kalimantan Independence Carnival and Marching Band Competition as part of the Pontianak Carnaval Khatulistiwa (PACAK), held in conjunction with the 2026 National QRIS Week (PQN) and the Sovereign Rupiah Festival (FERBI) on Jalan Diponegoro, Pontianak, Sunday (August 16, 2026).
In his remarks, West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan said the event not only provides a platform for the public to express their creativity in arts and culture, but also has the potential to attract more visitors and stimulate the creative economy.
According to Norsan, events that bring together culture, creativity, sports, and digital technology should continue to be supported and developed as part of efforts to drive regional economic growth.
“We appreciate the event being held today. Hopefully, next year it can be even more vibrant and festive than this year,” Norsan said.
Norsan emphasized that the carnival is more than just a competition. It is also part of the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia and an opportunity to revitalize cultural traditions through community creativity, including the creation of imaginative costumes.
“This is not merely a carnival competition. More importantly, it is a celebration of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day. We should be grateful that Indonesia has enjoyed 81 years of independence,” he said.
He also encouraged the public to give meaning to independence through meaningful work and development in accordance with the strengths and potential of their respective regions, particularly in West Kalimantan.
“We must be grateful for this independence, which was fought for by our forebears and national heroes. Therefore, let us honor our independence by advancing development across all sectors,” he urged.
West Kalimantan’s Creative Economy Potential
Governor Ria Norsan added that West Kalimantan has significant potential in the creative economy, particularly in the culinary, crafts, performing arts, music, and fashion subsectors, including fashion inspired by traditional regional textiles. This potential, he said, should continue to be developed, particularly by engaging younger generations to create high-quality and competitive creative products capable of reaching both national and international markets.
In line with the development of the creative economy, the 2026 National QRIS Week also provides momentum to accelerate the digital transformation of the economy. Since its introduction in 2019, QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) has become an important instrument in facilitating digital transactions that are convenient, fast, secure, and inclusive.
“Through the 2026 National QRIS Week, we encourage regency and municipal governments to continue expanding the digitalization of payments, covering taxes, service charges, markets, parking, tourism, and various public services. At the same time, we expect the banking industry to maintain system reliability, broaden digital education, and continue supporting the development of MSMEs,” Norsan said.
Meanwhile, Doni Septadijaya, Head of Bank Indonesia’s West Kalimantan Representative Office, said this year’s National QRIS Week carries the theme “Cross-Border QRIS.” The theme is aimed at encouraging greater cross-border transactions, including those made by tourists and residents of neighboring countries visiting or conducting activities in West Kalimantan.
“We want to encourage greater use of QRIS for cross-border transactions. Over the past few months, we have seen considerable mobility into West Kalimantan from neighboring countries. This is an opportunity we want to tap into by encouraging them to make full use of QRIS,” he concluded.