Creative Economy Forum I Sri Lanka

AOD and British Council co-chairing the creative Industries Policy discussion for Sri Lanka will be continuing the dialog at Sri Lanka Design Festival 2018.

Globally, the creative economy has been recognised as a critical force for generating new sources of

growth, creating new jobs, fostering new drivers of competitiveness, and promoting new business

opportunities. In country’s such as the United Kingdom, creative industries have grown twice as fast as

the rest of the economy in recent years, accounting for over ten per cent of GDP. It has also been

recognised that in order to leverage this opportunity, there is a need for creative industries to attain

national recognition through national-level policy frameworks.

Similarly, if Sri Lanka is to continue to grow the creative industries in size and significance, it is imperative

that the desired intent and focus is given to establish the most favourable conditions for creative

industries to thrive. This would entail a cohesive effort to develop people with the right skills to meet the

needs of that expanded creative sector, create more opportunities for young people to develop creative

talents at school; and more structured pathways into creative careers etc.

To be effectively internalized and create the jobs of the future, creative industries must move from the

margins to the mainstream of economic and policy thinking. That challenge is as much for government as

it is for business and needs to provide the creative industries with an unrivalled pool of talent to draw on

and the same formal, structural support associated with other industries, such as assistance with

infrastructure and skills development. Further, given that the training for future jobs start now and

understanding that creativity is as important as literacy, the role of education is paramount in building the

creative thinking required to define the future.

In order to move forward in a meaningful manner, a group of stakeholders from the public and private

sector and other key influencers will gather as a core committee to deliberate and recommend

and action plan with the objective of establishing a national policy for creative industries.

(This is an invitee only event)