MOTAC PLANS TO HOLD CREATIVE ECONOMY SYMPOSIUM TO BOOST CREATIVE ARTS MARKETABILITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) plans to organise a creative economy symposium next year to promote and enhance the marketability potential of creative arts products produced by ASEAN countries.

MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman said the symposium, one of the key programmes under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar, is expected to take place in February next year in Kuala Lumpur, involving participants from ASEAN member states.

“We plan to collaborate with the United Kingdom (UK), where we can share insights on the concept of the creative economy and explore how we can leverage cultural diversity to ensure our arts can generate benefits for the society.

“We are hoping for strong attendance at this symposium and we will strive to gather as many youths from ASEAN countries as possible to share experiences and learn from ASEAN member states and the UK. We also hope to invite subject matter experts on creative economy,” he said after a special media briefing on ASCC at the Craft Complex here.

Roslan said the creative economy is a relatively new concept in Asia, particularly in ASEAN, in terms of how some countries can capitalise on the arts and culture sector to drive economic growth.

He said the ministry is currently identifying academics or individuals who can present ideas on the creative economy during the symposium.

MOTAC has also engaged with various stakeholders regarding the symposium and will continue to implement initiatives and programmes related to creative arts, in line with the cultural policies launched to advance Malaysia’s creative economy sector.

“MOTAC and departments under the cultural sector will take the lead in this effort. Through the creative economy symposium, we will combine two sectors under ASEAN, namely the economic sector and the cultural sector.

“We hope (with this approach) we can further highlight our culture and provide market opportunities for Malaysia’s craft and cultural artisans,” he said.

-- BERNAMA