The government plans to bring Bangladesh’s creative industries into the mainstream economy, turning traditional crafts, music, film and theatre into sources of economic growth, employment and export earnings, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Saturday.
The initiative aims to help artists and craftspeople develop commercially viable businesses through financing, skills development, branding and access to international markets, while promoting Bangladesh’s cultural influence abroad.
Speaking at the launch of the book Creative Footprints, jointly organised by Standard Chartered Bank and Bengal Foundation at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka, the minister said the government wanted to establish the creative economy as a driver of gross domestic product growth and a source of national “soft power”.
He said traditional economic thinking had largely kept arts and culture outside mainstream economic activity, but the government had decided to integrate the sector into its broader growth strategy.
The planned support includes financial assistance for local artisans, painters and cultural workers, alongside training in design, branding and marketing.
The government also wants to help producers reach international buyers through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Alibaba.
Khosru said better market access would enable rural artisans and other creative workers to secure fairer prices for their products, improve livelihoods, generate employment and earn foreign currency.
The minister said the government had already allocated funds in the budget for the initiative, while private businesses were also coming forward with substantial financing.
He stressed that public funding alone would not be enough, calling for partnerships with private companies and non-governmental organisations to develop the sector.
Beyond its commercial potential, the government sees cultural industries as a way to strengthen Bangladesh’s international identity.
Khosru said music, theatre, film and handicrafts could help establish the country’s position globally through cultural influence rather than economic activity alone.
He thanked Standard Chartered and Bengal Foundation for their initiative and expressed hope that public-private cooperation would contribute to broader cultural and economic development.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair Litu and Standard Chartered Bangladesh CEO Enamul Huque attended the event.
