The Ministry of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Colombia have signed a memorandum of understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the sidelines of the World Conference on the Creative Economy (WCCE). The MoU intends to improve collaboration and mutual understanding in the domains of culture, arts, and creative industries between the two countries.
Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, and His Excellency Angelica Maria Mayolo, Colombian Minister of Culture, signed the memorandum of understanding.
The Memorandum of Understanding intends to foster joint initiatives in cultural domains between the two countries, facilitate information and expertise exchange, and give technical assistance to help the cultural and creative industries grow. It will also strengthen relations between the two countries’ artistic and cultural institutions, promote cultural and artistic exchanges, and encourage increased involvement in each other’s cultural activities, festivals, and events. The agreement intends to provide assistance to artists, cultural specialists, and scholars from both countries.
The MoU strengthens bilateral cooperation in the fields of theatre and performing arts, music, literature, dance, cinematography and audiovisual, visual arts, and many other areas, while acknowledging the importance of creative industries in accelerating economic growth and developing a sustainable future.
Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi stressed the importance of establishing cultural convergence between different people of the world, promoting dialogue and making the cultural and creative industries a priority sector in economic development. These industries play a key role in improving the quality of life and also help improving productivity. They help in creating a world that consolidates the values of coexistence, understanding and tolerance, which leads to better human relations.
Her Excellency emphasised the need of bolstering the two countries’ cultural and creative linkages, as well as creating chances for bilateral collaboration in these areas.
Her Excellency added: “It’s the best time to explore cooperation in the creative economy, establish common platforms and initiatives and work on investment opportunities in this very promising sector. We are developing the course of cultural and creative relations between the UAE and Columbia to serve cooperation efforts, encourage working together in policies and general regulations to promote the creative sector. We will also launch measurement methodologies for this sector and enhance training opportunities for creators.”
Her Excellency praised international organisations, including the Colombian government’s Orange Economy Initiative, which is one of the country’s most important efforts. It promotes cultural and creative industries and seeks to increase their contribution to the economy, commerce, and investment in many sectors.
Her Excellency emphasised the growing importance of the creative economy, particularly in light of the UAE National Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries, which was launched in conjunction with the UAE’s 50th anniversary.
In addition to other areas of potential cooperation between the two countries, the MoU emphasises cooperation in the fields of cultural and creative industries, exchange of creative products and services, and fostering joint action on developing financing models for the creative industries and best practises for protecting intellectual property and copyrights.
Both the UAE and Columbia strive to preserve intellectual property rights in accordance with their respective countries’ national legislation as well as international accords. The two countries will also increase collaboration in each other’s cultural events and make it easier for individuals to participate in these activities.
