Launch of Creative Industries Export Strategy

Mr. Kinley T. Wangchuk, the Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property (DoIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director of the International Trade Centre and Mr. Gerald Daly, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Bhutan office inaugurated the Strategy on February 26, 2021.

The launch of the Creative Industries Export Strategy follows 9 months of extensive consultations with medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), sector associations, public sector and training institutions, which helped define the needs and priorities for developing the creative sector during 2021-2025. Based on detailed mapping and diagnostic review of the sector, the Strategy provides clear strategic directions for reforms required to establish a progressive, sustainable and high-quality creative sector. The Strategy has been developed to align and complement the objectives of the Bhutan Vision 2020, the 12^th Five Year Plan and the 21^st Century Economic Roadmap.

The DoIP Director General said, 'Creativity in the Bhutanese arts and crafts has always been an intricate part of Bhutanese national consciousness. Bhutanese arts and crafts are not merely the remnants of a bygone age, but they are the manifestations of a living Bhutanese culture that are cherished and practised as a tradition that continuously live in the minds of the people and society on everyday basis. The Ministry of Economic Affairs takes great pride in launching the first Creative Industries Export Strategy of Bhutan'.

Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, International Trade Centre, said, 'The strategy will focus on establishing a favourable policy and regulatory framework as well as reinforcing the institutional and educational support in order to spark the creativity of medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to access key markets, while also supporting them to prepare for a post-COVID recovery.'

Mr. Gerald Daly, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Bhutan office said, 'The country can benefit more from a well-coordinated approach in monetizing the cultural sector and this strategy paper provides that strategic direction. I firmly believe that the creative sector can largely contribute to the aspirations of the 21^st century economic roadmap of Bhutan'.

The Creative Industries Export Strategy includes a detailed five-year plan of action with a set of activities to provide a solid foundation for the growth of the film, music, graphic design, including the related software development sector.

The Strategy is a result of collaboration between the Department of Trade and the Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the International Trade Centre, under the Trade Development Strategy Programme and its work on a creative industries methodology.