Kuala Lumpur: The ASEAN-UK Symposium on the Development of ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework served as a key platform for advancing the region’s cultural and creative industries while fostering sustainable development within the ASEAN Creative Economy.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan stated that the symposium aims to create a framework outlining a shared vision and strategic directions for advancing the ASEAN Creative Economy. He emphasized that the symposium also acts as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices between ASEAN and the United Kingdom (UK) on the creative economy, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to explore potential opportunities and strengthen cooperation.
Khairul Firdaus remarked, ‘With the right policies and investments, ASEAN can become a global leader in the creative economy. Our shared heritage and rich cultural diversity are our greatest assets, and by working together, we can make a bigger impact worldwide.’ These comments were made during his welcoming remarks at the launch of the symposium, which gathered over 100 participants, including ASEAN policymakers, academia, and practitioners, to discuss the cultural and creative industries within the regional creative economy.
The ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework is set to be one of the key deliverables to be adopted by ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN Summit this year. ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn, in his opening remarks, expressed confidence that the framework will serve as a roadmap for guiding cross-sectoral collaboration towards achieving meaningful social, cultural, economic, and environmental outcomes in fostering the ASEAN Creative Economy. He praised the symposium’s role in uniting key officials from ASEAN sectoral bodies and partners from the UK to develop the framework.
Meanwhile, UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin highlighted that sharing expertise and collaborating on the framework will not only fortify ASEAN’s creative industries but will also nurture a future where creativity is a cornerstone for inclusive growth. She stated, ‘The UK is proud to support ASEAN’s effort to establish a robust and sustainable creative sector. Creativity and innovation are at the heart of the UK’s industrial strategy, driving economic growth, digital innovation, and cultural exchange.’
Director of Southeast Asia at the British Council, Summer Xia, underscored that the ASEAN-UK Symposium marks a significant step forward in the shared vision of a thriving, innovative, and sustainable creative economy. He mentioned that through the ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy Programme, connections are deepened, new ideas ignited, and policies shaped to empower creative industries to thrive.
The themed ‘ASEAN Creative Economy: From Ideas to Impact’, the symposium represents a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to foster closer collaboration between ASEAN member states and the UK in shaping a robust, inclusive, and sustainable creative economy. The two-day event included panel discussions from ASEAN and UK experts, along with workshop sessions on desired cultural, economic, environmental, and social outcomes for ASEAN Creative Economy development, highlighting identified sectoral priorities and institutional mechanisms for driving regional development.