The discussion brought together government, municipal, development and industry actors at a timely moment for Nepal’s creative economy. As the country revises its cultural policy framework, participants underlined that CCI should be treated not only as cultural expression, but also as a source of jobs, innovation, local enterprise, tourism value and sustainable development.
A key priority is to ensure that national policy gives clearer recognition to the sector. Dr Suresh Suras Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, noted that CCI has been identified as a high priority in the National Culture Policy 2081 (BS), alongside ongoing work on intangible cultural heritage. This creates an important opening to address long-standing gaps in sector coordination, legal recognition, financing, skills development and support for creators.
Municipal leadership is also emerging as a critical driver. Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s commitment as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, including investment in cultural preservation, heritage safeguarding, research and pedestrian-friendly heritage areas, shows how cities can connect culture with urban development. The challenge now is to turn these initiatives into wider opportunities for filmmakers, designers, craftspeople, storytellers, cultural entrepreneurs and young creators.
Lalitpur Metropolitan City’s work as a UNESCO Creative City of Music points to another important issue: the need to invest in creative education, transmission of traditional knowledge and professional pathways for artists. Its four-year action plan, now linked to municipal budgeting, together with academic partnerships and music education initiatives, offers a model for connecting heritage, skills and livelihoods.
Participants also reflected on regional and international experience. Mr Tan Ghee Tiong (Jonathan), Head of the Culture and Communication Unit at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), introduced the Creative Economy Sustainability Framework, offering useful lessons on how cultural and creative industries can be integrated into broader economic, social and environmental planning.
The first-ever Regional Perception Survey on ASEAN Creative Economy, conducted under the ASEAN–UK Advancing Creative Economy programme, reveals strong public optimism alongside pressing challenges faced by creative professionals across the region. Building on insights from the publication Festivals in South East Asia, a new research programme, Festivals in ASEAN: Foundations of the Creative Economy, is set to launch soon.
Evidence from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal’s own CCI baseline assessment further highlighted the need to move from recognition to action. Ms. Sophia L. Pandé, Lead Consultant for the assessment, presented recommendations on CCI policy and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education, pointing to the importance of stronger data, cross-sector collaboration, market access, creative entrepreneurship and skills that connect culture, technology and innovation.
For UNESCO, the next step is to help partners focus on a limited number of practical and clearly defined thematic areas where cooperation can make a visible difference. Mr Jaco Du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, emphasized that stronger collaboration will be most effective when it is built around shared priorities, concrete actions and measurable progress for Nepal’s creative economy.
The CCI Friends Group will continue to serve as a platform for this work. By bringing together national and local government, creative practitioners, development partners and experts, the group aims to help address structural challenges, strengthen policy support and create better conditions for Nepal’s cultural and creative industries to contribute to inclusive, green and sustainable development.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/cci-friends-group-calls-stronger-policy-support-unlock-nepals-creative-economy?hub=701
