ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s Creative Economy Minister, Lennox Andrews, says that the island’s cultural and creative industries, if properly nurtured, can substantially contribute to economic growth and job creation.
In addition, he said they could also be the foundational pillar for social and cultural development.
“This must begin with thoughtful, coordinated efforts to raise more heightened awareness of our nation’s abundant creative industries and their obvious benefits to Grenadians of all ages,” Andrews told the three-day conference for the creative and cultural industries that concluded here on Friday.
“We also believe it is imperative to implement and support training programs, seminars, and other activities – including establishing and managing a Creative Industry Registry and Business Networking Platforms – that help creative entrepreneurs improve their capacity.
“Toward this end, our government is determined to foster a more favorable environment that bolsters the economic value of creative industries by identifying and developing natural linkages between them and other sectors,” said Andrews, Minister for Economic Development and Planning.
He told the conference participants dubbed “Unleash” that the new Dickon Mitchell government will also seek to institute concessions and other economic incentives for those in the creative industries while implementing a policy framework for the sector’s development coincides with our 2035 National Sustainability goals and objectives.
Andrews said that financing the creative and cultural projects will not just be the government’s investment, for there will be a reliance on grant funding from organizations and institutions.
“In any business, money is a constant concern, and that is certainly true for our creative industries, which is why we aim to generate more funding opportunities and provide helpful directions toward existing funding sources that may not yet be common knowledge,” he said.
He said that among the steps that will be taken to bolster the creative industries so that the economic impact will have more fiscal contribution is exporting innovative services and goods. “And, as I alluded to earlier, we have even grander designs to promote Grenada’s creative communities beyond our borders by supporting the export of creative goods and raising the international profile of our talented groups and individuals within the sector.
“As a government, we recognize and appreciate the vast and varied talents we possess in this regard, and so we are committed to investing in our people, and in particular our young people, so that over time, we as a country can become more resilient and have a developed economy that is recognized both regionally and internationally,” Andrews added.
The Grenada Office of Creative Affairs (GOCA) said the three-day event focussed on exploring the current state of Grenada’s creative industries, identifying the challenges and opportunities, and discussing potential solutions to address these issues.
It said the creative industries could significantly contribute to the island’s economy and that the government has recognized this potential and taken a proactive step in prioritizing its development.
The conference attracted local, regional, and international speakers focusing on various legal and social issues.
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