CBM 2011 to highlight Cebu's creative industries

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is taking the lead in taking a large chunk of the US$2.3 trillion creative industry in the world, by starting with an aggressive move to professionalize and strengthen the huge potential of Cebu's creative sector.

Led by Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) director Nelia F. Navarro, the creative industry will gain attention and focus during the first “Cebu Creative Industries Summit” on June 21 to 22 (2011), which is one of the highlights of the 15th Cebu Business Month (CBM 2011).

Navarro said that the Creative Industries sector is one of the country's priority sectors for development and promotion.

“This is anchored on the belief that creativity is the new driver for growth in Cebu's economy: the engine that will sustain our different endeavors,” Navarro said.

With Cebu's popularity in gaining global acceptance for its products through the creativity and innovativeness of such renowned designers as Kenneth Cobonpue and Movement 8, Navarro said it is the “perfect” time to further develop and provide full support for the creative industries sector players in Cebu.

“Cebu already lost its competitiveness and market position of its manufactured products, due mainly to the lower production cost in other countries. What's left now is our creativity expressed through our works and design,” Navarro said.

In light of the importance placed in the Creative Industries as emerging economic driver specifially for Cebu, Navarro said several government and private sector initiatives have started such as the inclusion of the Creative Industries as priority sector in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), the Investment Priorities Plan (PPP), of the Board of Investments, the Arangkada 2010 Report and Advocacy Paper of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, and other regional and development programs and plans, as well as a pending bill in the Senate entitled “The Creative Industries Act.”

According to Navarro the creation of Cebu's Creative Industries group will initially focus on group segments, based on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) classification of creative industries.

These are the Heritage Group (traditional cultural expression:arts and crafts, festivals and celebrations. Cultural sites—museums, libraries, exhibitions, etc); The Arts Group (visual arts, and performing arts); The Media Group(publishing and printed media, audiovisuals); The Functional Group (designs, new media such as software, video grames, creative services—architectural, advertising etc.)

Creative Industries are those that root from individual creativity, skill and talent and those that have potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.

In the year 2000, the creative economy was estimated to be worth US$2.2 trillion worldwide, and its was growing at five percent annually.

The global entertainment and media industry alone is projecting to inject around US$2.2 trillion in the world economy by 2012.

Global exports of creative goods and services—products such as arts and crafts, audiovisuals, books, design work, films, music, new media, printed media, visual and performing arts, and creative services registered more than double growth between 2002 and 2008.

The total value of these exports reached US$592 billion in 2008, and the growth rate of the industry over that six-year period averaged at 14 percent.

According to Navarro the first Creative Industry Summit in Cebu will follow a two-track thrust which are the innovation and promotion of techno-preneurship. (FREEMAN)