Yusifova: Azerbaijan values culture, creativity as key drivers of sustainable dev't

The scope of the Center for Development of Cultural and Creative Industries in Azerbaijan will be expanded, Saadat Yusifova, Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, said during the panel discussion themed UNESCO Creative Cities Network and Sustainable Urban Development held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

The deputy minister stated Azerbaijan values culture and creativity as key drivers of sustainable development: "In recent years, important legislative and strategic steps have been taken in this direction. The Azerbaijan Culture-2040 Cultural Concept identified cultural and creative industries as one of the main priorities. At the same time, amendments to the Law on Culture strengthened the legal framework for creative industries. New incentive tools, such as a national classification system for cultural and creative industries, have also been introduced."

Yusifova stressed that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to education, human capital, and the development of creative infrastructure: "Incubation programs in gaming and cultural technologies, certification and scholarship programs in various creative fields, as well as grant support for NGOs, contribute to the formation of a new generation of creative professionals. At the same time, the Center for Development of Cultural and Creative Industries in Baku provides professional opportunities for creative individuals, and this model is planned to be expanded to the regions."