DTI Promotes PH Creative Economy at WCCE 2022 in Bali, Indonesia

The Philippines led by House of Representatives Special Committee for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Chair, Rep. Christopher “Toff” De Venecia participated in the Third Edition of the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE 2022), with the theme “Inclusively Creative: A Global Recovery” held in Bali, Indonesia on 5-7 October 2022. The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Jakarta headed by Commercial Attaché and Economic Official to ASEAN Jeremiah C. Reyes, together with Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) Creative Department head Ms. Marjo F. Evio joined the Philippine delegation.

The country’s participation in the WCCE 2022 Expo is a show of support to further promote the Philippines as a source destination of creative goods and services on the creative industry sector through forging strategic linkages with creative economy players across the region. Rep. De Venecia served as one of the speakers at the panel session on public-private partnership where he highlighted the importance of public-private sector collaboration in promoting creative economy in the Philippines, including the creation of the Philippine Creative Cities Network and the enactment of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act. He emphasized the need for more state-to-state collaboration on creative economy which is evident in the recently signed Philippines-Indonesia MOU on Creative Economy - a pioneering agreement that could serve as a model with other countries. Rep. De Venecia then proposed the creation of a dedicated ASEAN working group on creative economy.

The Philippines held a bilateral meeting with Minister Sandiago Uno, Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy where both sides discussed the implementation of the PH-Indonesia MOU on Creative Economy signed during the State Visit of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in early September 2022 providing an opportunity for both sides to discuss possible areas of collaboration and exchange of best practices on creative economy.

According to the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines (CECP), about 2 to 3 million Filipino creative freelancers work locally, while 1.5 million Filipino creatives handle international projects. Assistant Secretary Glenn Peñaranda, Officer-in-Charge for DTI’s Trade Promotions Group (TPG), said that while the Philippines is the top exporter of creative services in the ASEAN region, the country’s total creative exports only amount to 2% of the market share in Asia-Pacific which presents both ample room for growth and an opportunity for the Philippines to invest especially in creative goods and services.

The WCCE 2022 finalized a non-binding Bali Creative Economy Roadmap 2022 that contains action points that countries may wish to implement and include in their respective economic development agenda. Uzbekistan will host the next WCCE in 2023.