DHAKA : Finance Minister Amir Khosru
Mahmud Chowdhury today 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.
