AfCFTA and the Creative Economy

By Elizabeth Maina

INTRODUCTION

Over the last few years, the creative economy has been highlighted by stakeholders such as creative practitioners, national arts councils, donors and private sector partners as critical for the socio-economic development of developed and developing countries. Creativity, knowledge and access to information are increasingly recognized as powerful engines driving economic growth and promoting development in a globalising world (UNCTAD,2008).

This is even more critical with the advent of the knowledge economy which is informing progressive development and the industrialisation policy discourse and agenda. According to the United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the creative economy is projected to reach a global valuation of US$ 985 billion by 2023 and could represent 10 percent of the global GDP before 2030.