Cambodia Joins International Effort to Boost Creative Economy for Sustainable Development

Cambodia, alongside Indonesia, Mozambique, and Namibia, co-hosted a hybrid side event at the United Nations (UN) titled "Creative Economy Beyond Borders: Leveraging South-South Cooperation Potential for Inclusive and Sustainable Development." The event saw participation from Permanent Representatives, Deputy Permanent Representatives, senior UN officials, and distinguished panelists from Cambodia, Indonesia, and Namibia, who joined online. Speaking at the event, Ms. Chey Chanthakithya, Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Technical and Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, highlighted the Cambodian government's efforts to strengthen the ecosystem for the creative economy, based on the "Pentagonal Strategy Phase I." Ms. Chanthakithya emphasized that culture not only reflects Cambodia's historical past but is also a vibrant driving force for job creation, social solidarity, and economic diversification. She underscored that South-South cooperation is a crucial catalyst for advancing the creative economy in developing countries. The meeting highlighted the necessity of: 1. Integrating the creative economy into national development policies. 2. Strengthening capacity building for financing, commercialization, and market access. 3. Utilizing South-South cooperation to share best practices and foster skills development. 4. Ensuring inclusive participation from women, youth, innovators, and micro, small, and medium enterprises in global value chains. This initiative reflects Cambodia's commitment to leveraging its cultural assets for economic development and pursuing sustainable growth. Notably, South-South cooperation, a collaboration among developing nations, is positioned as a vital framework for countries with shared challenges to exchange experiences and knowledge, fostering mutual development in the burgeoning creative economy sector.