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No excuses for cultural and creative industries

THE GOALS OUTLINED in the Cultural and Creative Industry Development Plan that formed part of the government's overall Challenge 2008 National Develop-ment Plan have not been met.

When the plan was announced on May 8, 2002, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research estimated that cultural and creative industries would grow in production value by 264 percent from NT$440 billion (US$13.57 billion) in 2001 to NT$1.16 trillion this year. This estimate was too optimistic and the real figures are much more modest. The six-year period covered by the plan ends this year but the most recent figures, from the annual report on the development of cultural and creative industries in Taiwan in 2006, show the industry as being worth only NT$581.1 billion in 2005.

In an address to the Cabinet on July 24, 2002, the premier said that the Challenge 2008 plan was intended to be revised from year to year. In addition, the premier urged goal management to ensure that the scheme was properly implemented. What actually happened was that the goals of the Cultural and Creative Industry Development Plan have been revised ever lower. Whereas the original goals were for 200 percent growth in industry output value and employment opportunities, the employment growth goal was later lowered to 100 percent. Finally, the target for both categories was set at 150 percent growth.

This continual lowering of targets is at odds with international trends. According to a Reuters report on Jan. 14, the global trade in creative products and services increased from US$234.8 billion in 1996 to US$445.2 billion in 2005, with an 8.7 percent growth between 2000 and 2005. UN Conference on Trade and Development Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said that the creative economy has strong growth potential. Developing countries should take China as their example: In 2005, China's export of creative products ranked first globally, at US$61.4 billion -- 18 percent of the world's total.

The Chinese government only officially included the cultural industry in its social and economic development strategies at the 15th Central Committee meeting in October 2000. In just five years, its creative industry had become a world leader in terms of exports.

The cultural and creative industries of Taiwan should continue to strive toward success.

Jerry Hsia is an associate professor at National Taiwan Normal University's Professional Program in Cultural and Creative Studies.

TRANSLATED BY ANGELA HONG
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