Minister Hylton Calls for Research Partnerships

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, is urging the establishment of research partnerships for the provision of data on cultural and creative activity in Jamaica.

Mr. Hylton was delivering the keynote address at a Creative Economy Research Symposium, hosted by the National Cultural and Creative Industries Commission (NCCIC), at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge on the University of West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, on February 5.

He noted that while there is no shortage of cultural and creative activity in Jamaica, there is a deficiency in gathering the data on these activities, which hinders the development of  “a high value and value-added creative sector.”

Mr. Hylton, who deputised for  Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, said the Government is looking to partner with research institutions and individuals to determine a robust cultural and creative industry (CCI) research agenda.

“However, this is not just about commissioning more studies. We are moving to the implementation phase of the vital programmes we have (been) developing in the area,” he said.

The Minister  added that this type of data is critical to furthering the growth of the economy.

“Our bilateral and multilateral partners also require more and better data in order to justify their assistance with projects and programmes. Local financial institutions also require economic data to be able to provide financial services for their CCI customers,” Mr. Hylton said.

He emphasized that the staging of the one-day research symposium is important to the establishment of the type of partnerships needed to move the creative industries forward.

The event brought together learning institutions, as well as government and private entities,  for discussions on the scarcity of existing economic and social data on the industry. It  also facilitated the sharing of the Jamaican Government and Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) policy agendas with the universities and relevant ministries, agencies and departments.

Mr. Hylton noted that the research agenda must place Jamaica in a position to forecast what percentage of economic growth will come from creativity and culture. He said it should also accurately identify the contribution of the industry to the gross domestic product (GDP), as well as identify the number of creative workers that contribute to the economy, and be able to capture data on the export of creative goods and services.

“With the right blend of evidence-based interventions, a facilitating legal framework, and targeted activities and a more coordinated support and investment landscape, Jamaica is well placed to grow and develop a viable and enviable creative economy,” he said.

The NCCIC was established in the Office of the Prime Minister in 2015, with part of its mandate being to develop policy to drive the sustainable development of the creative economy in Jamaica.

The creative economy is defined as that sector of the macro-economy that produces goods and services, whose production requires significant input of creativity.