The creative economy –which includes audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts– is not only one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy, it is also a highly transformative one in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings. Between 2002 and 2011, developing-countries averaged 12.1 per cent annual growth in exports of creative goods.

World trade of creative goods and services totalled a record of US$ 624 billion in 2011 and more than doubled from 2002 to 2011. At the same time, creativity and culture also have a significant non-monetary value that contributes to inclusive social development, to dialogue and understanding between peoples. 

This is the main message of the Special Edition of the United Nations Creative Economy Report, “Widening local development pathways”, co-published by UNESCO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.