Strengthening the Creative Industries for Development in ... - unctad

30 PART 3. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES POLICY REVIEW
3.7 TRADE
Africa has a very weak presence in global markets for creative goods and services mainly due to its
very limited supply capacity. The same applies for the totality of ACP countries, which includes 78
countries in the African, the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Together, their exports of creative goods
amounted only to $1.5 billion in 2008 77 . Undoubtedly, given the abundance of creative talents in the
region, the creative potential of these countries is extremely underutilized.
Mozambique has a weak presence in world markets, even if its exports of creative goods are
increasing. According to official figures, the value of exports of creative goods amounted to less than
$1 million in 2005 and reached $4.5 million in 2008 78 . Imports, however, increased from $46.6 million
in 2005 to $51.3 million in 2008. Efforts should be made to redress this big trade deficit by enhancing
creative capacities and improving the export performance of the most competitive creative sectors.
Chart 2. Mozambique creative goods exports by product groups, 2003-2008
Mozambique, creative goods, exports by product groups, 2003 and 2008
Visual Arts
Publishing
Performing Arts
New Media
Design
Audio Visuals
Art Crafts
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
(in millions of US)
Source: UNCTAD global database on the creative economy
Furthermore, at present the cultural and creative industries are not on the priority list of the MIC. 79 The
MIC pointed out that even though the creative industries are not listed as priorities in Mozambique’s
industrial policy that does not mean that they are not important for the government. 80 Indeed, the MIC
noted a situation pertaining to Makonde art, which is being made in Mozambique but being exported
internationally by a neighbouring country. The government is aware of this situation and wants to
address it. The MIC indicated that they are trying to introduce the notion of clusters in the country,
having one village or region specializing in a particular creative product or activity.
Action: The MIC pointed out that incorporating the creative industries into their national policies and
strategies is only a matter of reviewing the country National Plan.
Issues related to multilateral trade negotiations and market access for cultural and creative goods and
services are very complex. They involve several agreements such as GATS (General Agreement on
Trade in Services), TRIPS, TRIMS (Trade-related Investment Measures), competition policies, trade
efficiency and most importantly, special and differential treatment for developing countries. For
77
The data provided by national governments to the database of the United Nations seem to present some
inconsistencies, mainly in the publishing sector. In the context of this project, efforts will be made to improve the
quality and coverage of the data on creative industries.
78
Creative Economy Report 2010: a feasible development option. UNCTAD/UNDP-
UNCTAD/DITC/TAB/2010/3.
79
Republic of Mozambique, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (1999) and Boletim da República, I Série,
Número 26, 7 de Julho de 1998.
80
Direccao Nacional de Industria, MIC, Maputo, 4 September 2008.
2008
2003