SELA for Developing Cultural Industries in the Region

SELA for Developing Cultural Industries in the RegionCaracas, Jun 28. -The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) called on member states to promote development and cooperation in cultural and creative industries because this could be an important source of funds.

SELA mentioned in a report that in most countries of the region these sectors play an important role in areas including tourism, music, handicrafts and cuisine, among others.

It mentioned as examples the nations of Brazil, Barbados, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Peru and Chile, which have national policies on the matter.

SELA specified that in 2008, despite the global financial and economic crisis, world exports of creative goods and services maintained their historical growth and reached 592 billion USD.

In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, sales exceeded 17 billion USD.

Therefore, it advocated promoting the exchange of policies, specific cooperation actions and work programs to develop a strategy for cultural and creative industries, and form a regional market.

The report concluded that these elements would contribute to consolidate artistic values and traditions and solve pressing problems in the region, such as unemployment, sustainable development and social exclusion. (Prensa Latina)