World trade of creative goods and services reached US$ 624 billion in 2011
In May 2013, UNCTAD revealed the extent of the global trade of creative goods and services. Meanwhile, the Special Edition of the United Nations Creative Economy Report 2013, co-published by UNESCO and the UNDP through the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, reviewed the situation of creative economies in developing countries.
The creative economy – which covers audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts – is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world’s economy. According to UNCTAD, from 2002 to 2011, the global trade of creative goods and services more than doubled, reaching a record of US$ 624 billion in 2011, while exports of creative goods increases 12.1% annually in developing-countries. In these countries, the creative economy is becoming more and more crucial as a source of jobs and income.
Some key figures from the Creative Economy Report:
➜ In Argentina, the cultural and creative industries employ some 300,000 people and represent 3.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.
➜ In Morocco, publishing and printing employ 1.8 per cent of the labour force, with a turnover of more than US$ 370 million. The market value of the music industry was more than US$ 54 million in 2009 and has increased steadily since.
➜ In Bangkok, Thailand, there are over 20,000 businesses in the fashion industry alone, while across the region, young people are earning a living as small-scale designers.
Find out more :
Web-documentary of the Creative Economy Report
Creative Economy Report 2013
UNCTAD Global Database on Creative Economy