Describe the main features of the policy/measure:
On October 10, 2019, the International Mugam Center hosted a presentation on "Creative Azerbaijan: Export Opportunities for Creative Products through the Azexport.az Portal" jointly organized by the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Culture. This initiative aimed at opening the Azexport.az portal to export opportunities for Azerbaijan's creative products to foreign markets through international e-commerce platforms. The mission of the Azexport.az portal, established by the Order of President Ilham Aliyev "On the establishment of a single database of goods produced in the Republic of Azerbaijan" and managed by the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication, is to provide information on goods of Azerbaijani origin and sell them in domestic and foreign markets. Since its inception, the portal has brought more than 1.3 billion manat (764 mln USD) worth of export orders from about 150 countries. Until this initiative, these orders were mainly food, agricultural and industrial products. The event notably referred to the relevance of such creative industries as crafts, music, literature, film, painting, photography and other fields.
Website of the policy/measure, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the policy/measure?:
The participants of the event mentioned the necessity to create a "Strategy for the Development of Creative Industries" to ensure long-term strategic planning and effective coordination of development processes in this field. This document can contribute to the growth of creative products, diversification of exports, development of small and medium enterprises, reducing the share of the shadow economy, reducing youth unemployment, as well as ensure closer cooperation between the state and civil society actors. The event participants noted that the cooperation with the Azexport.az portal is in the interest of leading entities producing goods and services in Azerbaijan's creative and cultural industries - private companies, individual entrepreneurs and authors. In this new model of supporting the flow of cultural goods, the human factor is quite important - how to turn human skills into economic potential and income generaiton for the creators and artists.
The event participants noted that, given the existing potential of Azerbaijan in this area, in the future, this sector can bring the country at least $ 1-1.5 billion in additional income. For this purpose, cooperation will be established with Etsy, Kickstarter and Amazon Kindle online portals specializing in this field, as well as Sotheby's auction house. The representatives of the Azexport.az portal stressed that the website had succeeded in selling e-books on the Amazon online platform in 2019. In the next stage, design solutions, handicrafts, national souvenirs, works, poems, drawings, creative video games, music, composition and other creative products with potential export potential will be available on Etsy, Apple, Music, iTunes, Google Play. , Kickstarter, Sotheby's and Amazon Kindle.
Partner(s) engaged in the implementation of the measure:
Has the implementation of the policy/measure been evaluated?:
NO