Dr. Yeganeh Forouheshfar, EMEA Senior Researcher, participated in the UfM Conference on Creative Economy in Tirana on 5 November 2024. The event was organised by The Union for the Mediterranean, the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania, the Tirana City Hall and the Young Professionals Network of Albania. The event opened with a welcome address by Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania.
Dr. Forouheshfar contributed to the first panel on The Global Impact of the Creative Economy and outlined the wide-ranging economic and non-economic benefits of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), from job creation and contributions to GDP and exports, to fostering social cohesion, peacebuilding, innovation, education, and overall well-being and in particular showcasing health benefits of exposure to artistic productions. Drawing on insights from the recently published CREACT4MED Regional Policy Paper, she highlighted the challenges of CCI in the South Mediterranean region, notably precarious nature of jobs in the creative sectors. Dr. Forouheshfar noted the region’s increasing interest in CCI, despite a lack of comprehensive data, which limits the sector’s assessment and its potential to be mainstreamed among policy makers and investors.
