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Thursday 7 January 2021 locAl
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The United Nations:

“2021, International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development”

Continued from Page 9 Aruban stakeholders are still come another successful
not aware of what the Cre- economic pillar for Aruba,
Aruba cannot diversify ative Industries is and what seems a bit far-fetched.
its economy with singu- its impact potential could Through, developing the
lar economies as we seen be for the island. We can’t Aruban Creative Industry
with the refinery industry ignore the current struggle Policy which includes these
and the tourism industry. most of our local craft art- types of strategies specific
We need to diversify in col- ists and souvenir enterprises to each niche market like
lective economies that to- are experiencing. the crafts industry, seems
gether contribute sustain- more cohesive and makes
ably to the Aruban GDP. Not too long ago in Octo- more economic sense.
This way we become less ber souvenir and artistic
dependent on specific craft artist were all over so- Moving forward
economies, we become cial media expressing their It has not been an easy
less vulnerable to external worries for the decrease in process for Aruba to di-
shocks, and we diversify sales and interest from the versify its economy. Many
the labor market to provide tourists in purchasing local times it seems easier said
opportunities for all. crafts and souvenirs. So, this than done. However, I
new “Aruba Outdoor Ame- still believe that we as a
This entire idea to indirect- mies within the Creative policy in order to develop nity Economy” strategy people can accomplish
ly stimulate the Arts and Industry, by introducing a the Aruban Creative Indus- might help stimulate more economic growth and so-
Crafts Industry, which in- “Aruba Outdoor Amenity try, in my eyes seems as a economic development cial development for our
ternationally is considered Economy” instead of just missed opportunity. By do- for local artisans, however, community. The respon-
one of the niche econo- considering this a strategic ing this, it only confirms that claiming that this will be- sibility is shared between
all stakeholders, but the
Aruban government has
the main responsibility to
initiate this process to em-
power the sector to self-
sustain the development.
That small steps have been
made?, yes, hence why I
constantly express that the
Aruban Creative Industry
Policy should make an ap-
pearance sooner rather
than later. A holistic and
evidence-based policy
plan that includes targets
for guidance, strategies for
implementation and indi-
cators for evaluation and
monitoring.

By introducing the “Aruba
Outdoor Amenity Econo-
my”, we will not only fur-
ther confuse people, we
will again miss the oppor-
tunity of joining other de-
veloped and developing
countries in solidifying a
Creative Industry and to fi-
nally structurally partake in
this international multi-bil-
lion economy. If we want
to become an innovative
island we should develop
a Creative Economy in syn-
ergy with the Knowledge-
based Economy. Not only
for economic growth, but
for social equality, cultural
development, and envi-
ronmental conservation.

2021, the year for the cre-
atives of the world!q