Viet Nam: Investing in cultural industries to bolster the economy
In recent years, Viet Nam has seen the rise of a national market for creative and cultural products. The country’s strong economy and global outlook, along with the ratification of the 2005 Convention, have raised awareness of opportunities for growth in the cultural sector.
Workshops organized in 2009 and 2010 in Hanoi have highlighted the need to provide more opportunities for cultural industry professionals such as artists, cultural operators and entrepreneurs (eg market access, circulation of goods and services, etc) and strengthen existing legal and financial mechanisms (copy right law, tax incentives, etc).
The Viet Nam Institute for Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS), a think-tank of the Ministry of Culture in charge of promoting the cultural industries, has therefore sought assistance from UNESCO.
The aim of the project was to assist the Government in developing a long-term policy framework for the promotion of the cultural and creative sector, leading to the launch in December 2013 of “Creative Viet Nam- a Framework for Growth, Competitiveness and Distinctiveness”.
The mission helped to establish the basis for a national Cultural Industries Strategy. The new Viet Nam Creative Framework is based on the following five recommendations:
1) Develop a short-term creative industries strategy and programme for Vietnam 2012-2014;
2) Establish a Creative Industries Steering Group to drive this programme;
3) Invest in a Creative Industries programme delivery unit;
4) Set up a Creative Industries Regulatory Review Panel; and
5) By 2015, establish a new creative and cultural investment programme for Vietnam.
Please consult here a summary of the overall results of the missions and the future steps to be taken.
During the first mission in April 2012, the experts:
- met with twenty one key stakeholders over a two day period
- assessed the current financing and investment environment for cultural industries in the country.
- assisted in the preparation of a first outline of Creative Viet Nam – A Framework for Growth, Competitiveness & Distinctiveness and accompanying action plans.
The second country mission took, place in July 2012, during which the experts:
- took part in fourteen meetings and seminars involving participants from public and private sectors, national experts, policy makers, cultural industry managers and investors.
- conducted workshops attended by more than 35 people
- revisited legal framework and action plans
- developed concrete policy proposals through a set of recommendations