Beyond the Symposium
The Jodhpur Initiatives for Promoting Cultural Industries in the Asia-Pacific Region that were debated and proposed for endorsement at the Symposium, established a policy framework and a long-term Plan of Action. This Plan of Action is intended to facilitate recognition of the cultural industries sector and its needs, as well as to encourage coordination and investment in key areas such as human resource development, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, intellectual property rights regimes, small and medium size enterprise (SME) support policies, and targeted promotional and export measures.
In implementing the Jodhpur Initiatives following the Symposium, particular attention will be paid to the poorer developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where there is great, and currently unmet, need for technical assistance to facilitate the introduction of national policy frameworks to support the development of the cultural industries into a significant economic sector.
The Jodhpur Initiatives for Promoting Cultural Industries in the Asia-Pacific Region consist of a policy framework, a regional technical assistance mechanism, a long-range action plan and a data model. The merit of the Jodhpur Initiatives is that as a roadmap for development driven by creative, cultural industries, they constitute an integrated regional approach which is adaptable to national and local circumstances.
It is a defining characteristic of the cultural industries that they are multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral in nature, and that they therefore require input which cuts across existing sectors, administrative departments and professions. The successful implementation of the Jodhpur Initiatives will necessitate the further development of networks between institutions and of inter-agency partnerships that were established in the lead-up to, and during, the Symposium.
This is a historic opportunity to collaborate on strategies which will ensure that the 21st century will be one in which integrated, cross-sectoral policy development and action will allow Asia-Pacific cultural industries to flourish.