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Forum on Cultural Industries 2016 - One Belt One Road Initiative and Opportunities for Macao Cultural Industries

15 June 2016

The forum (Macao SAR- 5-9 June 2016) discussed the opportunities for Macao to develop its cultural industries based on its strategic location as an important stop on Maritime Silk Road with great historical and cultural value, its privileged location in the Pearl River Delta (China's economic hub and densely populated area), the mature resources of gaming industry and tourism.

The Forum was composed of two main forums and two highlight dialogues as well as workshops on different themes on cultural and creative industries.

Sustainable development for cultural industries can be achieved by the integration of creative industries, attracting and nurturing new talents, activating local economic community development and grasping all opportunities Macao encounter in "One Belt, One Road" strategy, stated Mr. Chui Sai Peng, President of Executive Council of Chinese Cultural Exchange Association.

Macao needs to increase innovation and investment and have capabilities of extensive connections with the global resources, said Prof. Jian Hua, researcher of Culture Industry Research Center in Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Mr. Eusebi Nomen, Strategic Advisor of the Barcelona Centre Disseny, refered to the "One Belt, One Road" as once in a lifetime innovation project. A green One Belt one Road Initiative. Design-driven innovation has proved-in highly innovative countries like Denmark-to improve the success of innovation projects. Macao has the opportunity to focus on developing and providing design-driven innovation services.

Ms. Carolina Quintana, UNCTAD, highlighted that the synergies of cultural and creative industries and sustainability can lead to new business opportunities in Macao. The integration of sustainable design into a creative tourism strategy will contribute to the wellbeing of the local citizens and capitalize on the estimated 23 million tourist's arrivals per year to Macao by creating new experiences and eco-friendly cultural places and products and services to visitors.

Mutual communication, bilateral connections, open cooperation and the concept of harmony and inclusiveness as well as the international influence of Macao's' brand of cultural tourism can be fully activated, Ms. Xu Xiu Ju, Director of School of Arts, Macao Polytechnic Institute.

Macao should optimize the regional synergies of cultural industries' development amongst Pearl River Delta regions, Portuguese-.speaking countries and in South East Asia, said Prof. Xiang Yong, Vice-Dean of Institute of Cultural Industries, Peking University.

Macau is widely renowned to be a region rich in history and heritage. It is the wonderland, in this part of China, for many architects and students of urban and architectural design, Mr. Jose Sales Marques, President of Creative Macao.

The Founder of CHESSMAN, Mr. Chong Cho Lam, a production house but also a superior provider of stage entertainment production, artist management as well as film and video production in Macao, shared his practical experience in working with a number of renowned local singers and songwriters to cultivate a new generation of Macao singers.

Mr. Mok Kin Wai, independent Research Consultant, shared his experience on the development of the creative industries in Hong Kong and his engagement in the development of the "Hong Kong Memory Project" dedicated to the preservation of Hong Kong's historical and cultural heritage.

Mr. Liou, Weig Gong, Associate Professor at SooChow Universtisy, Dep. Of Sociology and who once worked for the Taipei City Government of Cultural Affairs Bureau, shared the experience of Taiwan in developing its creative capacities and also addressed the issues of cultural sociology and sociology of consumption.

Mr. Gu Qing Yang, Associate Professor of the Lee Kua Yew School of Public Policy of National University of Singapore, shared his research on public policy and urban development, stressing the importance of encouraging the creative imagination in the public and local community areas.

Mr. Michael Sonderdann, Commissioner for Scientific Affairs of the German Federal Government's Centre of Excellence for the Culture and Creative Industries, focused on the importance of cultural statistics and monitoring, cultural employments, and status of artists.

Gama Nuno, is a Designer, Founder of the concept store-Maison Nuno Gama, shared his experience about the creation process and implementation of brand development and challenges as creative manager in Portugal. Mr. Chu, Cheik Son, Chairman of Macao Designer Association, introduced the important role of the center in promoting creative and energetic design in the city, and in providing designers with the creative space for their work. A good designer should not just cater to the market, but play a more active role to bring about innovation. Design is a profession, and creative design has the power to transform a city's ambience and aesthetics."

Mr. Zhu, Shun Long, Professor of Heritage and Museology at Fudan University, shared his experience in museum management, exhibition planning, museum construction, cultural heritage preservation and other current Research Projects such as standard for museum exhibition design?make & construction.

UNCTAD will follow-up with Macao authorities for the contribution to the next edition of the Forum on Cultural Industries.

Macao forum on Cultural Industries 2016