PR86449

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-At the inaugural meeting, officials agreed to press cultural economy agenda

again at Italy G20, 2021

-"The cultural economy is an untapped powerhouse … but needs dedicated focus on

the global policy agenda. This requires strong leadership and cooperation to

unlock a new pillar of the world economy," Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr

-Saudi Arabia to open a world-class center to protect Red Sea, Arabian Gulf

underwater heritage

    Cultural leaders from the Group of 20 and other nations pledged today to

support the role of the cultural economy and meet annually during the G20, with

next year's discussion to take place under Italy's presidency.

    Under the theme "The rise of the cultural economy: a new paradigm," culture

ministers and officials from international organizations in their inaugural

meeting discussed heritage preservation, sustainable development and culture as

a catalyst for economic growth. The talks focused on employing new

technologies, developing digital platforms for artistic expression, while

making cultural resources more easily accessible.

    "This high-level cultural presence at Saudi G20 Presidency illustrates our

shared belief in the vital role of culture in propelling the innovation

ecosystem of economies,'' Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi

Arabia's Minister of Culture, said in his closing remarks. ''The onus is on us

to preserve our shared heritage for future generations and to produce and

disseminate culture in a sustainable manner.''

    Saudi Arabia organized the meeting on the margins of the G20 meeting as the

Covid-19 pandemic continued to curb the movement of people and goods around the

world. The World Bank has a baseline forecast of a 5.2% contraction in global

growth this year after the pandemic infected millions of people, disrupted air

travel and tourism, and led to national economic lockdowns.

   However, as the pandemic changed lives around the world, people continued to

communicate, exchange ideas and artistically express, took virtual tours of

museums and galleries and engaged with private and public initiatives.

    "Precisely in a difficult moment like the one we are experiencing, the

universal values of culture can represent the foundations on which to build

rebirth,'' Dario Franceschini, Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and

Activities and Tourism and co-chair of the first meeting said. ''The serious

crisis unleashed by Covid-19 has laid the foundations for an important

innovative turning point in terms of the diffusion of new technologies.''

    This accessibility demonstrated the resilience of the cultural economy and

helped spur economic growth through innovative means by creative industries to

increase the global exchange of cultural goods and services. UNESCO puts annual

revenue from cultural and creative sectors at $2.25 trillion and exports at more than

$250 billion. The sectors employ nearly 30 million people worldwide while some

forecasts put its contribution to global GDP at about 10% in the near future.

    The inaugural meeting, held virtually, was organized by the Saudi Ministry

of Culture and G20 Saudi Secretariat as part of The International Conferences

Program, honoring the G20 Saudi Presidency year 2020.

    On the sidelines of the meeting, the Ministry of Culture also announced an

initiative to establish a world-class center dedicated to the management,

restoration and protection of underwater cultural heritage in the Red Sea and

the Arabian Gulf. The center, which will be affiliated with the Ministry's

Heritage Commission, will be responsible for developing the sector in Saudi

Arabia and the region. This will be achieved through a range of initiatives

aimed at enhancing research in the field and generating effective policy

initiatives, as well as raising awareness of the importance of the underwater

cultural heritage as a civilizational legacy for humanity.

     The next meeting to discuss the cultural economy will be hosted by Italy's

Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism during its country's

presidency of the G20 in 2021.

    Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1327100/Saudi_Minister_of_Culture.jpg 

    Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1327101/Global_cultural_leaders.jpg   

    Source : Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia