Govt wants to establish creative industries as mainstream economy: Finance Minister

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said the government wants to establish creative industries as a mainstream economic sector and a source of Bangladesh's soft power on the global stage.

"Arts and culture, rural handicrafts, music, films and theatre must be integrated into mainstream economic activities to become key drivers of the country's future GDP growth and strengthen Bangladesh's soft power internationally," he said.

The finance minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling ceremony of the book Creative Footprints, jointly organised by Standard Chartered Bank and Bengal Foundation at a city hotel.

He said traditional economic thinking had consistently placed arts and culture behind other economic activities. The present government has decided to move beyond that approach and incorporate the creative economy as a new driver of the country's economic aspirations and growth, said a Finance Ministry press release.

The minister said the government alone could not implement all the initiatives required to develop the sector. Strong partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside appropriate policies and financing, would therefore play a crucial role in advancing creative industries.

He said the government had already allocated necessary funds for the sector in the national budget, while private-sector organisations had also shown interest in making substantial investments.

Outlining the government's plans, Amir Khosru said it would provide financial assistance to local artisans, painters and cultural workers, alongside support for skills development, design, branding and marketing through international e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Alibaba.

"These initiatives would help marginalised artists and artisans secure fair prices for their products and convert their creative work into sustainable income," he said.

The measures would also improve their living standards, create employment opportunities and contribute to foreign exchange earnings, the minister added.

Emphasising the international significance of Bangladesh's cultural heritage, he said creative industries represented more than art, handicrafts or business; they also served as an important source of the country's soft power.

"Through music, theatre, films and handicrafts, we want to strengthen Bangladesh's position on the global stage," he said.

The finance minister thanked Standard Chartered Bank and Bengal Foundation for their initiative and expressed optimism that joint efforts by the government and private sector would bring about a cultural and economic transformation in the country.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke attended the event as a special guest.

Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair Litu and Standard Chartered Bank Chief Executive Officer Enamul Haque were also present.