A business session titled ‘Creative Economy: From Startups to the Creation of New Industries’ was held in at the Expo 2020 in Dubai on 3 December as part of the business programme of the National Day of Russia. The agenda touched upon new opportunities that creative industries provide to investors, how the creative economy brings countries and peoples together, and how it serves the goals of sustainable development.
The session was moderated by Winzavod Centre for Contemporary Art Founder Sofia Trotsenko. The speakers included Riki Group Chairman of the Board and President of the Animated Film Association Ilya Popov, Polytechnic Museum General Director Elena Pronicheva, Roscongress Foundation Deputy CEO and Innosocium Foundation Director Elena Marinina, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District – Yugra Governor Natalya Komarova, BY-WORLD Global Creative Director Vyacheslav Avetisyan, Made in Russia CEO Mikhail Sadchenkov, UAE Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy Omar Saif Ghobash Omar Saif Gobash, Head of the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development Alexey Fursin, and Lenfilm General Director Fyodor Shcherbakov.
The session participants noted that despite the unfavourable circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, creative industries vastly exceed the growth rates of the world economy and remain among its most significant drivers. The UN has declared 2021 the International Year of the Creative Economy. The Russian government has approved a concept for the development of creative industries in the country until 2030. Systematic state support for creative industries will boost their share in the Russian economy from the current 2.2% to 6% as well as increase the proportion of citizens employed in creative professions from 4.6% to 15%. The creative industries sector has considerable potential to create high added value, its scale, and exports, making it appealing to both entrepreneurs and investors.
“The creative economy offers major opportunities for investment in small and medium-sized businesses. The Roscongress Foundation has extensive expertise in studying and assessing these trends, which enables us to predict effective business models and anticipate new trends in creative industries. The development of creative industries is an obvious point of growth and a sustainable economic solution,” Marinina said.
A discussion of ways to develop creative industries was one of the key themes of the ‘Russia Forum: Driving the Future’ in Dubai, during which the business session ‘Creative Economy: From Startups to the Creation of New Industries’ was held. The Forum is supported by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Roscongress Foundation. It focuses on international and Russian-Arabian cooperation in the economy and investment and features a discussion of investment opportunities in Russia and the presentation of flagship projects to develop innovative business models and introduce new technologies.
