Effective nurturing and exploitation of 'creativity' in the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) can provide new opportunities for job creation, wealth generation and poverty reduction.
While the estimated global market value of creative industries was expected to increase from $831 billion in 2000 to $1.4 billion in 2006, most of the developing and Islamic economies still continue to be marginal players in this sector, in spite of the potential for their growth and development.
This issue was highlighted during discussions at the second international Islamic economic, cultural & tourism conference held in Bangkok from September 7 to 9. According to the official report on the conference, made available here on Saturday by Nasir Ali Mirza of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, other issues discussed related to the following:
-- There is limited market awareness, and similar tourist perception of Islamic arts and cultural assets.
-- High quality Islamic cultural products have rarely been marketed effectively as part of the tourist market.
-- Small and medium sized arts and cultural organisations lack the resources to effectively integrate their product into tourism markets.
-- There is lack of information and understanding between the arts, cultural and tourism industry sectors, and negligible research, if at all, on cultural tourism in OIC countries.
-- Many existing quality cultural products have yet to meet the needs and expectations of tourism markets.
-- While opportunities for product development are infinite, in order to be commercially viable they need to be consistent, commissionable and have a reliably stable presence in the market.
-- Putting together and implementing tourism policies are among the essential conditions for successful development of cultural tourism. A sound policy should contain elements that: conserve and protect the (living) culture, enhance and facilitate interpretation, and safeguard the local authenticity, be conducive to a fair distribution of incomes among all communities involved in cultural tourism.
Recognising the essential links between trade, investment, tourism, culture and sustainable economic development, the participants, following extensive discussions and exchanges of views and experiences, drew up their recommendations for action by governments, international organisations, chambers of commerce and industry, and public and private bodies.
The recommendations, call for a review of governmental policies and for the development and promotion of economic, cultural and tourism activities, as a catalyst to economic progress in the OIC countries.
The recommendations relate to economics, culture and tourism. It has been stated that Governments of OIC countries and observer states should create or strengthen advisory services on business development, provide seed-funding for entrepreneurs, facilitate development of business linkages with established operator, assist micro, small and medium enterprises in forming production or marketing co-operatives, and provide educational, technical and professional training programme, including through exchange of experts to improve quality and business standards.
Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), in co-operation with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and national member chambers, should organise special meetings on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop comprehensive sectoral programme for the development and growth of SMEs in the OIC countries.
Cultural tourism and the marketing of traditional crafts and textiles, linked together under the new term of 'cultural industries', should be recognised as being among the most important economic engines of the future.
Business, economic, tourism and cultural partnership should be promoted between OIC countries and Thailand, in line with the MOU signed between Halal Science Centre, Thailand, and International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Malaysia, for establishing an International Medical Centre project in Thailand.