MICM, Banco Popular and INTEC join forces to promote Dominican creative industries
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), the Banco Popular Dominicano and Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) signed a interinstitutional agreement to promote the development of orange economy or economics of creative and cultural industries at the national level.
The objective of this inter-institutional collaboration is based on the interest of the parties in strengthening the sector and generating added value to the national economy, for which initiatives will be carried out that make visible the potential of the creative economy and promote the development of capacities and financial instruments. designed to support these businesses.
Among the main initiatives a web page is contemplated, https://economianaranja.com.do, creative business directory y online training courses for those interested in expanding their knowledge on the management of cultural and creative industries.
Likewise, initiatives will also be carried out to promote entrepreneurship, higher education and the formalization of the creative sectors.
Importance of the orange economy
According to estimates by multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, the economy of creativity is an increasingly important economic engine: it contributes 3% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employs 30 million people and generates more than US $ 2,250. thousands of millions.
This is especially relevant in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region historically characterized by its creativity, thanks to the diversity of its cultural heritage and its entrepreneurial drive.
The importance of this sector of the economy lies in its multiplier effect. In addition to generating decent employment in multiple non-traditional sectors, with a global average of 5.3%, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, it materializes new ideas and innovative business products.
What is orange economy?
This macrosector integrates the set of activities that, in a chained manner, allow ideas and creativity to be transformed into goods and services with added value, boosting growth, diversifying supply and exports and differentiating the productive model of a country.
Within the creative economy coexist the management of the cultural industry in its broadest sense (from literary publishing, cultural and museum heritage, phonography or the performing arts) to functional creative industries such as fashion, architecture, gastronomy, graphic, interior and industrial design, advertising and the audiovisual business, handicrafts or the creation of technology, among other areas.
It also strengthens the practices of conservation of cultural heritage and the transmission of traditional knowledge, vital for the strengthening of national identity and the projection of a unique country image.
The United Nations General Assembly decreed that this year 2021 be considered the International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development because, after the health crisis, the orange economy has shown how essential creativity is for the well-being and survival of our species.
Sustainable economic development
The formal act of signing this inter-institutional cooperation agreement was held in the Popular Tower and was headed by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Mr. Ito Bisono; the executive president of Banco Popular, Mr. Christopher Paniagua, and the rector of INTEC, Mr. Julio Sanchez Marinez.
In his words, Minister Bisonó indicated that "in addition to cultural development, the orange industry generates a deep, positive and lasting impact on society and the economy of a country." He added that "these actions that we announce with great joy today, together with public policies that we will share later, will promote the generation of jobs based on creativity and talent, as well as productive chains and, with it, more opportunities for all."
For his part, Mr. Paniagua highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public sector, the private sector and the academy that this agreement entails, stating that “the encouragement of our institutions will undoubtedly foster a greater projection of Dominican creators in the country and beyond our borders, thereby benefiting a more sustainable development model. "
Meanwhile, Mr. Sánchez Maríñez indicated that “The Dominican Republic has great potential to gather the capacities of its people in the development of cultural and creative industries, and universities constitute the best ecosystem to cultivate that imaginative, creative and innovative potential through technical and technological, humanistic and cultural training. INTEC feels satisfied to be part of this alliance, with which it fulfills its missionary commitment to supply this social need ”.