Karachi, 28 February 2023:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam addresses at a seminar jointly organized by the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) at the FPCCI Headquarters in Karachi on 28 February 2023. The Seminar was titled: “Unlocking the Creative Economy”.

President of FPCCI Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Diplomats of OIC Countries including Consuls General of Indonesia and Malaysia, other diplomats from Consulate General of Iran and Türkiye based in Karachi, Secretary General of ICCIA Mr. Yusuf Hasan Khalawi, Advisor to the Director General of ICESCO Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Eco-System Enablers, Entrepreneurs, Business leaders including talented women and promising young entrepreneurs were present among others at the Seminar on: “Unlocking the Creative Economy”.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam in his remarks appreciating the FPCCI and ICCIA for organizing the very important seminar mentioned that today, culture and creativity accounts for 3.1% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 6.2% of all employment in the world. In other words, cultural and creative economy contributes US$2.2 trillion in global economy and create employment opportunities to over 30 million people globally including the OIC Countries.

Deputy High Commissioner emphasized on creating informed awareness and deep enthusiasm among the creative people in area of Cultural and Creative Economy. It’s vital to embolden and augment the activities in the promising sectors of Creative Economy, boost economic growth, diversify opportunities for employment, and generate greater creativity and human capital. He mentioned that there are ample opportunities for wider and deeper cooperation and collaboration among the member countries of the OIC for the promotion of Creative Economy. He commented that the OIC Countries have lot of commonalities and at the same time there are huge diversities in their own and identical culture, arts, design, and so forth related to cultural and creative economy. The OIC Countries are the treasures of world’s immensely valuable cultural heritage. He further commented that the OIC countries have the cultural talents and capabilities to be the dominant actors in the global cultural and creative economy. Deputy High Commissioner further mentioned that as a responsible member of the OIC, Bangladesh always actively engages widely and deeply on issues of the OIC and its specialized affiliated organizations.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam mentioned that Bangladesh has been working to develop in Creating Economy and at the same time playing a commendable role to promote the Creative Economy in the OIC countries and beyond. As an example, Deputy High Commission mentioned that UNESCO has created a very prestigious Prize on Creative Economy in 2021. The Title of the Prize is: UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy Prize. The Prize rewards exceptional initiatives that support young entrepreneurs in the field of the creative economy across the globe. Established in 2021 in the General Conference of the Organization with the unanimous supports of all the member states of UNESCO and with generous financial support from the Government of Bangladesh, the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy Prize is an immense encouragement in the filed of Creative Economy across the globe. Deputy High Commissioner humbly added that the prize consist of US$ 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) cash award and the Government of Bangladesh is proud to be the financial contributor of the entire prize money.

Deputy High Commissioner further mentioned that the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy is named after the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who believed in the power of youth and culture as unifiers of building harmony and peace in the society.

Deputy High Commissioner further elaborated as mentioning that the Prize is awarded biennially to exceptional initiatives of an individual, institution, an entity or non-governmental organization which/who, devised and delivered innovative projects or programs that promote youth entrepreneurship, in the creative economy. The creative economy includes sectors such as cinema/audio-visual, design, media arts, music, performing arts, publishing, and visual arts. Creative entrepreneurship is one of the engines of the creative economy. It is the aptitude, energy and skills base that – together with creativity – underpins the success of the creative sector. Creative entrepreneurs inhabit in every sector of the creative economy. They provide business skills and analysis to creative endeavors, bringing them out of the sphere of personal reflection and expression, into the public domain and marketplace, he commented.

Deputy High Commissioner further mentioned the entrepreneurs and the experts in the filed of creative economy that on 11 November 2021, Madam Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, awarded the first UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy to MoTIV Creations Limited of Uganda during a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The Ugandan MoTIV Creations Limited was finally selected from among 69 competitors of UNESCO Member countries by a Jury Panel of the UNESCO through a rigorous assessment. Deputy High Commissioner recalled a quotation of Madam Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO in the Prize-Giving Ceremony as: ‘By rewarding all those who enable creators, especially women and young people, this Prize opens up new horizons for humanity through culture and the arts. This Prize is a tangible measure to defend those who drive this sector, which is so important for our societies, our economies and our future’.

Deputy High Commissioner mentioned and encouraged the talent individuals and organizations in Creative Economy across the OIC Countries to compete for the Prestigious International Award of UNESCO in Creative Economy, for which the nomination for 2^nd edition is open now since December 2022 and all relevant information is available in the UNESCO Website and the finally nominated individual or organization would be awarded during the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2023. Deputy High Commissioner commented that Bangladesh is proud to be active and to engage in the field of Creative Economy in the OIC and UNESCO.