Forum on “Creative industries: new opportunities for sustainable development and employment” held
The presentation of the portal “Creative Azerbaijan” and a panel discussion on the topic “Creative industries: new opportunities for sustainable development and employment” were held in Baku Convention Center.
Opening the event, Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev informed about various projects implemented in our country in recent years in all areas with the support of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, investments in production, various projects to increase economic and social impacts on creative processes: “The funds invested in production will definitely come back at certain times and under certain conditions. But investments in culture, the human mind and its creative potential should not be measured by any time or criteria, they should differ.”
First Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ali Abdullayev noted that one of the main reasons why the creative industry acts as a driving force in the economic and social development of countries in recent years is precisely information and digital technologies: “The rapid development of information technologies, their accessibility, the emergence of new trends play a special role in the formation of the creative industry, and with widespread introduction in almost all sectors of the creative industry, form added value in the development of competitive products and services in these sectors.”
Noting that the development of the creative industry is not left behind from modern technological innovations, Ali Abdullayev spoke about the projects implemented by the ministry in this area: “It’s no secret that the development of the creative industry is impossible without high technologies and information technologies. Our ministry is directly responsible for the formation of infrastructure and the creation of other conditions for creative people. Previously, the High-Tech Park operated under the ministry. After the latest structural changes, the Innovation Agency was created. The structural transformations in the agency have already been completed, and its regulations have been prepared. The ministry has also commissioned the first largest data center in the region, which has a certificate of security and stability. Through the Innovation Agency, we provide grants and concessional loans to our young people who have ideas. It is interesting that when young people deal with this issue, they address themselves to the topic of Daghlig Garabagh, which is our acute problem. They are developing games about Icherisheher. We have created our first national games, such as “Shusha under occupation” and “Aghdam under occupation”, on the topic Garabagh. In addition, the intellectual game “Last dead end” was created. Today, some 130,000 people from around the world play games related to Garabagh. It has been viewed on YouTube 350,000 times, and game on the topic of Icherisheher – 800,000 times.”
Minister of Education Ceyhun Bayramov said that nowadays professions and specialties are changing rapidly in the modern world: The most important area in Azerbaijan is the formation of skills related to entrepreneurship and business ethics. This is important from the point of view that in the future they become not job seekers, but employers who create jobs. People with creative thinking should be directed towards this direction.”
Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev said that the future of the creative industry is enormous and broad: “With the development of technology and increase in scientific and technical knowledge, hundreds of professions are outdated to this day and will continue to decline in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to create new areas for labor force.”
The panel discussion continued with answers to questions from the participants.
