Kazakhstan's emerging creative economy: a new frontier for growth

December 13, 2023

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, hosted a high-level roundtable on the development of creative industries in the country. The event brought together representatives from government and private sectors, international organizations, the diplomatic corps, and experts.

The roundtable was preceded by a series of regional expert meetings organized by the UNDP focusing on creative industries in the Kyzylorda and Abay regions, as well as in Almaty. These meetings included workshops on digital solutions in creative professions to boost sales, media positioning, and branding. The outcomes will be integrated into the work of the UNDP in Kazakhstan Accelerator Lab and considered in the UNDP’s regional program.

"Creative industries play a crucial role in the sustainable and inclusive economic development of Kazakhstan's regions. They not only help businesses grow and create new jobs but also contribute to the intellectual and emotional development of society, strengthening social connections. It's important to support this sector, with special attention to engaging local youth, who possess abundant talents and creative potential,"

shared Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, reflecting on the results of the regional expert meetings.

Participants of the roundtable discussed the dynamics of creative industries' development in the region and examined UNDP's recommendations for sector development based on local needs and potential. Following the meeting, the UNDP and the Ministry of Culture and Information, with other stakeholders, reaffirmed their intention to continue joint efforts to stimulate the development of creative industries. Special focus will be given to developing the sector in the regions, particularly in the Abay, Ulytau, Zhetysu, and Kyzylorda.

"Together with UNDP and our colleagues in the regions, we conducted facilitation sessions. We plan to start working on what we call 'regional clustering.' We understand that a region conducive to the development of crafts, for example, may not necessarily be suitable for the development of cinematography. UNDP will help us identify these breakthrough areas,"

stated Yevgeniy Kochetov, Vice Minister of Culture and Information.

Creative industries significantly contribute to the global economy. They account for 3.1% of the global GDP and provide employment for 6.2% of the world's workforce. In Kazakhstan, the contribution of creative industries to the GDP is currently less than 1%.

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