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OAS AND IDB STUDY MECHANISMS TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE AMERICAS

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, and the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, opened today in Washington an international workshop entitled “Culture as an Engine of Economic Growth and Social Inclusion in the Americas.”

The objective of the meeting is to facilitate dialogue among policymakers from the Member States on culture, finance and planning, as well as with representatives from international institutions, on the impact of culture in the economic and social development of the Americas. The two-day meeting also seeks to identify ways to enhance support for cultural development initiatives through international cooperation.

In his opening remarks, Insulza noted that “the interest of the OAS and the IDB is to achieve that culture has a much more dynamic presence in the development of the region. We have to think of how to strengthen the business sector dedicated to cultural activities, including small and medium sized businesses, provide access to credit, improve investment opportunities in culture, acquire technology and training, expand research, and adopt educational policies that will facilitate creativity, and artistic and creative instruction.”

“The culture industry has proved to be an efficient instrument for the growth of the economy. The Americas are not only an inexhaustible source of this raw material; we have all the real conditions to turn our rich cultural diversity into an effective tool to combat hunger, poverty and social exclusion. Therefore, we can use these experiences—traditions and know-how, which for centuries have been the spiritual nourishments of our people—to create sources of material wellbeing for them.”

For his part, the head of the IDB said that in some industrialized countries, culture represents seven percent of the gross domestic product, “which sets the standard of the weight that culture has in societies; which puts in evidence that the benefits of adopting national development policies that focus on culture not only create employment, but also constitute an integral factor in the fight against poverty.”

The OAS Secretary General also noted that culture in Mexico represents some 6.7 percent of the gross domestic product, five percent in Brazil, four percent in Colombia and three percent in the Andean nations. In terms of employment, he said, craftwork creates 1.8 million jobs in Peru, five million in Mexico and 155,000 in El Salvador.

“Now, understanding the potential of culture as a contributor to our economic growth, we believe that this number could be much higher, and therefore the main objective of this workshop is precisely to find ways of identifying and measuring the true impact of culture in the processes of development and the economy,” he said.

Insulza emphasized that culture is not only a source of employment and income. “It has always been much more than that, and we want it to continue to be. Culture should continue to be a determining factor for the development of our human potential, and it has to continue to be the tool which shapes our identity and our unity as peoples.”

“Culture has been an instrument to strengthen democratic institutions. How do we not recognize that the democratic values that today strengthen the Americas were reinforced thanks to, among other things, artistic and cultural expressions? How do we not remember and express our gratitude to the musicians, poets, writers and singers that in different languages and in different rhythms inspired us to overthrow dictatorships that tried to destroy our institutionalism? And how do we not remember how many times they have encouraged us and continue to encourage us to fight for democracy, human rights and liberty?” he concluded.

The event, which will be held through October 2, is bringing together representatives from the Ministries of Culture, Finance and Planning of the 34 OAS Member States, as well as guests of international organizations. Also invited were international financial, regional and subregional institutions such as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the Andean Development Corporation, the Caribbean Development Bank and national agencies of cooperation, representatives and permanent observers to the OAS and other potential international partners, including non-governmental organizations.

Reference: E-243/07