Phl creative industries to fuel economic growth

CEBU, Philippines - Getting more aggressive to maximize the full potential of the sector, local stakeholders considered the creative industries as the new driver for economic growth in the country.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will conduct the 2nd Cebu Creative Industries Summit and NGO Accreditation One-Stop-Shop and Advocacy Matching at SM City Cinema One on June 14 as one of the highlights of the Cebu Business Month 2013.

Creative Industries and Advocacy Committee Chair Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon said during the CBM launching that the summit shall serve as a platform for industry stakeholders to promote the sector as a wise strategy to further boost the economy.

She cited that creative industries are those that root from individual creativity, skill and talent and have the potential for wealth and job creation through the generation of intellectual property.

The creative industries sector, she added, is divided into four segments based on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) classification.

These are the heritage group that is composed of traditional cultural expression, arts and crafts, festivals and celebrations, and cultural sites; the arts group that includes visual arts, and performing arts; the media group which encompasses publishing and printed media; and the functional group that covers designs, new media such as software, video games, creative services, architectural, and advertising.

CCCI president Lito Maderazo said that the untapped potential of the creative industries to generate increasing employment and enhanced skills should also be recognized.

The creative industries sector is considered by the chamber as one of the fastest-growing priority sectors and economic pillars of the local economy that should be sustained along with tourism, information and communications technology and business process outsourcing (ICT-BPO), and entrepreneurship.

In a survey of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the creative sector in the Philippines accounted a contribution of 5.2 percent of the total country’s Gross Domestic Product, estimating to US$592 million.

In 2008, Cebu was dubbed as the Creative City in the Philippines while it was named as the first ever ASEAN City of Culture in Asia in July 2011.

The 2nd Cebu Creative Industries Summit is designed to be a venue for an exchange of creative and innovative techniques for business growth and global competitiveness.

It was on June 21 to 22 that the 1st Cebu Creative Industries Summit was held as part of the CBM 2011.

Also, P.E.O.P.L.E. Success Stories and Arts and Culture (Talento Cebuano) will be held on June 22 from 1 to 5 PM at Ayala Center Cebu.

CCCI officials recently launched the CBM 2013 with the theme Experience Cebu’s Creative Industries, ICT and BPO, Tourism and Entrepreneurship towards Powering Up for Global Business (Excite Cebu).

The month long event will run from June 1 to 28 shall uphold Cebu’s current surging industry sectors to promote cross-industrial partnerships, drive innovation and secure positive returns.

The entire June will also host sales events from the retail, ICT- BPO, furniture, fashion, home accessories, exporters, hotels, restaurants, wellness and fitness, hardware and construction industries. /JOB (FREEMAN)