LOCAL industry players are being advised to ramp up their export of creative goods and services, particularly in the fields of graphic design and software, in order for the Philippines to become the leading creative economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2030.
According to Jo-Dann Darong, Assistant Director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Competitiveness Bureau, the aim for this year is to unleash the creative industry potential within ASEAN and even Asian and beyond. The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) is confident that the goals in the sector can be achieved, as shared by Darong during a recent exporters’ congress.
To become the top creative economy in ASEAN by 2030, Darong emphasized the need to tap into the potential of the Design sector, stating that there are already a number of exporters of graphic design and software in the country.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Philippines has been showing a very robust performance in creative trade after the pandemic.
Darong highlighted the 73 creative sectors within the nine creative industries in the Philippines, which include audiovisual media, digital interactive media, creative services, design, publishing and printed media, visual arts, traditional cultural expressions, cultural sites, and performing arts.
He specifically noted the growth of the digital interactive media sector, which encompasses software and mobile applications, video games, computer games, and mobile games. Darong also mentioned the potential of the Design sector, covering fields such as architecture, urban landscaping, furniture, jewelry, and toy making.
Furthermore, Darong mentioned the growth opportunities in books and textbooks, blogs, comics, graphic novels, physical copies of magazines and newspapers, and other published media.
The Department of Trade and Industry has intensified its promotion for the film, digital, animation, and game development sectors. Darong encouraged exporters to explore countries like Canada, Japan, Korea, and other creative powerhouse nations to expand their export market.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector contributed P52.8 billion in Gross Value-Added (GVA) to the Philippine economy in the third quarter of 2023, experiencing a significant year-on-year growth rate of 15.5 percent.
Based on PSA data, the creative economy in 2022 reached P1.6 trillion, contributing 7.3 percent to the overall economy. This reflects a 12.1 percent increase from the recorded value of P1.43 trillion in 2021.
With Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s target for the Philippines to become the top creative economy in ASEAN by 2030, industry players are urged to seize the opportunities and unlock the full potential of the creative industry for the benefit of the country’s economy.
