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Hybridization of digital creative economy in ASEAN urgent
While many discussions have centered around the need to lift the barriers, such as skills, capability and infrastructure, the real issue is that many MSMEs in the creative economy sector offer non-digital value propositions.
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A Balinese 'kecak' dance performance at Uluwatu Temple, Bali. (JP/Ni Komang Erviani)
T
his month, in conjunction with the International Year of Sustainable Development 2021 and the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), the Foreign Ministry and the ASEAN Secretariat conducted the ASEAN Creative Economy Business Forum (ACEBF) panel discussions in Bali.
The hybrid discussions -- a mix of online and in-person participants -- featured prominent speakers from ASEAN countries. They discussed important issues around the policies and enabling environment required for the digitalization of the creative economy sector in the region.
The discussion is timely for two reasons. First, contribution of the creative economy is significant in the ASEAN countries. The digital creative economy constitutes 7 percent of the total gross domestic product of ASEAN countries.
The second is related to the post-COVID-19 recovery. Many actors in the creative economy are micro and small enterprises that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, such as those in the culture and tourism sector. Going digital is the only way to survive the impacts of mobility restrictions.
Therefore, starting to appropriately discuss the policies and ecosystem for digital creative economy is deemed necessary.
Among many highlights that were addressed in the panels, e.g. the need for collaboration and co-creation as well as the responsibility of the government to provide technology infrastructure and capability to use digital technologies, the panel agreed that digital transformation was pivotal for the creative economy sector.
Yet, the digital transformation process is lengthy and resource-intensive. How does the creative economy sector engage in digital transformation process in the most effective and efficient manner? While many discussions have centered around the need to lift the barriers, such as skills, capability and infrastructures, the real issue is that many MSMEs in the creative economy sector offer non-digital value propositions.
