Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The United Nations website has published an article titled "Uzbekistan Supports Global Efforts to Develop the Creative Economy," as reported by the Dunyo news agency.

The article highlights that culture and the creative economy are becoming key elements of sustainable development, driving economic growth, social cohesion, and innovation.

"Some countries have already made significant progress in this direction. For instance, last year Uzbekistan adopted the Law on the Creative Economy, which establishes a legal framework for the development of cultural industries that integrate art, technology, and entrepreneurship," the article states.

During a UN event, Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art, presented updates on preparations for the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, which will take place in Samarkand. She emphasized that this forum, being held outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris for the first time since 1985, underscores Uzbekistan’s growing role in promoting cultural values on the global stage.

The article also quotes Ulugbek Lapasov, Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who stated that culture and the creative economy hold immense potential for fostering economic growth, educational development, peacebuilding, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.

The authors conclude that the creative economy is not just an economic sector but a strategic tool for the future, capable of ensuring sustainable growth, economic diversification, and an improved quality of life. Investing in culture is not seen as an expense but as a high-return investment that can play a crucial role in building an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable world.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the creative economy already accounts for up to 7.3% of GDP in various countries and provides up to 12.5% of jobs. Globally, cultural and creative industries generate around $2.3 trillion annually, representing 3.1% of the world’s GDP. These industries employ 6.2% of the global workforce, with their significance particularly pronounced in developing nations.