Gov’t Targeting Maximum Benefits for Jamaica from the Creative Industries

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the Government remains focused on deriving maximum benefits for Jamaica from the country’s cultural and creative industries.

This, she says, by positioning these areas to further strengthen the country’s global competitiveness and earning potential, while spurring economic growth.

Ms. Grange says the administration is particularly keen on promoting greater economic and social stability for women involved in the cultural and creative industries, and leveraging brand Jamaica as a catalyst that can potentially increase youth employment.

The Minister was speaking at a Caribbean Creative Industries Management Unit (CCIMU) workshop held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, on Tuesday, April 12.

Meanwhile, Ms. Grange welcomed the workshop, which was organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

It entailed discussions on the role and priority development focus of the CCIMU.

In this regard, Ms. Grange highlighted the need to analyze the extent of collaborative engagements undertaken by agencies at the country level, towards achieving common goals.

She cited, as an example, a recently drafted business plan by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), aimed at streamlining the country’s cultural and creative industries.

“This business plan, which I am now reviewing, is a comprehensive document reflecting collaboration between Government Ministries and Agencies,” Ms. Grange said, adding that “we look forward to seeing how we will (achieve and) carry out seamless linkages.”

Other speakers at the workshop included: Executive Director of CEDA, Pamela Coke Hamilton; Acting Head of Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cayman Islands, Jesús Orús Báguena; and Division Chief, Technical Cooperation Division, CDB, Edward Greene.