Experts identified all the creative industries in Ho Chi Minh City and their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at a mapping training program for creative industries co-organized by the British Council in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Investment & Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) from March 21-23 in HCMC.
The training is being funded by the British Embassy in Vietnam and involved participants from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and Technologies, the Institute of Culture and Arts, the Statistics Bureau and representatives from the Vietnam Creative Entrepreneur Network (VCEN).
The two key speakers include Mr. Richard Naylor, Head of Research of B.O.P. consultant Co. and Ms Vanessa Swan, CEO, Cockpit Arts London.
This training is part of a MOU which was signed between the British Council Vietnam and HCMC ITPC to co-operate in the development of creative industries in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, the commercial centre of Vietnam. After the training, HCMC will begin the mapping process in the hope that it will be replicated nationwide in the near future.
The creative economy is becoming ever more important as a generator of jobs, wealth and cultural engagements and especially as a sector which can withstand global recession. The UN estimates that cultural and creative trade represents 3.4 percent of the total world trade and is growing at a rate of 8.7 percent.
Today, the global creative industry export turnover is approximately US$600 billion per year. According to statistics in the period 2007 – 2008, the creative industries contributed 12 percent of GDP in Thailand, 6.3 percent in Indonesia, 5.8 percent in Korea, 5.6 percent in Singapore, 5 percent in the Philippines and 4 percent in Hong Kong. In the United Kingdom, one of the most creative countries in Europe, the creative industries have contributed 7.5 percent to GDP and created job opportunities for over one million people.
“Our initial study shows that HCMC has the potential to develop creative industries. We hope that after the training, we will be able to do many more activities to develop the industries.” Mr. Tu Minh Thien, Director of HCMC ITPC said.
As a part of the activities to promote and develop creative industries in Vietnam, Vietnam Creative Entrepreneur Network (VCEN) is holding a networking event on March 24 to discuss “The effectiveness of engaging creative industries”. This networking event is held once every two months in order to strengthen relationships within the creative entrepreneur community and the media in Ho Chi Minh City.
The creative industries, according to the UK definition, includes 13 sectors: advertising, architecture, the arts, antiques, crafts, design, fashion, film, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, media, television and radio.
