Mongolia: transitioning from commodities to creativity

The launch of the Mongolian language version of UNESCO’s 2018 Global Report “Re|Shaping Cultural Policies” summary was held on 11 May in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The event, gathering over 100 participants, was organized by the UNESCO Beijing office in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports and the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture (MSUAC) in the framework of the Cultural Industry 2018 Forum.

The creative economy has increasingly become a policy priority in Mongolia. In an effort to move away from a commodity-dependent economy, attention has been placed on developing the creative and cultural industries (CCIs). International assistance has supported this process by ensuring that all relevant stakeholders integrate culture in their policy priorities.

From 2008 to 2013, activities undertaken by UNESCO contributed to raising the awareness of Mongolian authorities and local cultural institutions about the importance of developing their CCIs. Concretely, these activities contributed to enhancing the creative, productive and managerial capacities of cultural professionals.

Presently, UNESCO is supporting the elaboration of policy recommendations to develop CCIs in the framework of the project “Strengthening the sustainability of creative industry in Mongolia” funded by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, through the Korean Funds in Trust (KFIT). These recommendations will cover issues such as copyright protection, trade of cultural goods and services, cultural statistics, and cultural and arts education.

Cultural Industry Forum

As part of UNESCO’s most recent project, the Mongolian language version of UNESCO’s Global Report summary was launched during the Cultural Industry Forum 2018. The event was opened by Sonintogos Erdenetsogt, Director of the MSUAC and Uyanga Sukhbaatar, Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO.

“We should study and learn from this report to create and develop policies for strengthening the diversity of cultural expressions, which in turn will improve the creative economy of the country,” said Uyanga Sukhbaatar.

“Mongolia has implemented some projects supported by UNESCO. With this support, the Government of Mongolia is more attentive about the potential of creativity for advancing sustainable development," noted Sonintogos Erdenetsogt.

The latest edition of the Cultural Industry Forum was set up by MSUAC, which has organized  the event since 2015. The university also currently runs a curriculum to train future producers of arts and culture.

Mongolia ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2007.