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inance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has 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 drive future GDP growth and strengthen Bangladesh’s international cultural influence, he said.
The minister made the remarks on Saturday while addressing the unveiling ceremony of Creative Footprints, a book jointly published by Standard Chartered Bank and Bengal Foundation at a hotel in Dhaka.
Khosru said traditional economic thinking had often placed arts and culture behind other economic activities.
The government now intends to move beyond that approach and recognise the creative economy as an important driver of economic growth.
He stressed that the government alone could not ensure the sector’s rapid development. Strong partnerships with private-sector organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside appropriate policies and financing, would be essential.
The minister said the government had allocated funds for developing the sector in the national budget, while private organisations had also shown interest in making substantial investments.
Outlining the government’s plans, Khosru said local artisans, painters and cultural workers would receive financial assistance and support for skills development, design improvement, branding and marketing.
The government also plans to help them market their products 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 turn their creative work into sustainable sources of income, he said.
According to the minister, the measures would improve artists’ living standards, create employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange earnings.
Emphasising the global significance of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage, Khosru said music, theatre, films and handicrafts could play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s international standing.
He expressed optimism that coordinated efforts by the government and private sector would bring significant cultural and economic transformation.
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.
