September 13, 2024 – Mekong Institute (MI) successfully conducted a week-long “Training on Creative Industry Associations Management in the Mekong Region” from September 7-13, 2024. The training aimed to promote and strengthen creative industry associations across the region, by equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to continuously support enterprises and artisans in key project locations, fostering sustainable development in the region’s creative industries.
The training is part of the broader “Creative4Mekong” project (Promoting Creative Industry for Heritage Tourism Development in the Mekong Region), running from March 2024 to February 2027. Funded by the Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF), the project seeks to strengthen creative industries, preserve cultural heritage, and boost tourism in five World Heritage Sites in the Mekong countries: Ayutthaya (Thailand), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Hue (Vietnam), Luang Prabang (Laos), and Bagan (Myanmar). The project supports and empowers Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, cultural practitioners, and government officials in the creative sector through capacity-building programs, technological assistance, knowledge exchanges, and research.
The training brought together 25 participants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, representing both the public (Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Commerce) and private sectors, including MSMEs and artisans involved in Cultural and Creative Industries. Participants engaged in learning and knowledge exchange sessions, focusing on how creative industries can drive local and regional economic development.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director, highlighted the significance of supporting creative industries in the Mekong region and emphasized the vital role these industries play in people’s daily lives. “Creativity is deeply embedded in our culture and holds the potential to drive local economies and improve livelihoods. However, for the creative sector to transition from informal settings to a structured industry, collective learning and knowledge-sharing are critical,” he noted. Mr. Suriyan also stressed the importance of MI’s continued promotion of creative industries as part of its mission to support regional economic integration and inclusive growth.
Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of Trade and Investment Facilitation at MI, in his remarks, highlighted the potential of creative industries for regional economies and sustainable development. “With the right policy support, both nationally and internationally, and by strengthening the capacity of creative industry practitioners, we can unlock new opportunities for product innovation, market expansion, and employment creation,” he said. Mr. Dutta further emphasized the need to support MSMEs in the creative sector, noting that many in the region lack proper classification and adequate support, limiting their growth potential. He also promoted the use of the Mekong Heritage Application, developed by MI.
Throughout the five-day training, participants explored topics including the concept of creative industries in global, ASEAN, and Mekong contexts, intellectual property mechanisms, and success case studies from the region. They also covered business plan development and the business ecosystem necessary to support creative industries.
Participants visited Thailand Creative & Design Center in Khon Kaen, an organization dedicated to promoting creative industries in Thailand. This visit is part of a structured learning initiative aimed at exposing participants to valuable insights from Thailand’s experiences in fostering creativity and innovation within the industry. In the coming months, participants will implement action plans developed during the training to promote and protect traditional creative knowledge and products in their home countries.
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