Preface by the OECD
Colombia’s Orange Economy approach can inspire other OECD countries in the design and implementation of policies to support and leverage on the full potential of the cultural and creative sectors and industries. Colombia has put culture and creativity at the heart of its development model. It does so by capitalising on its past, and the diversity of its heritage and traditions, but it also looks to the future, by supporting innovation and creativity in emerging new activities.
Colombia provides a number of inspiring policy innovations, shaped around a comprehensive policy framework of seven “I”s – Information, Institutions, Infrastructure, Industry, Integration, Inclusion, and Inspiration. Behind each of these “I”s is a rich set of measures to help address the most pressing challenges of creative firms and workers such as tackling informality and the precariousness of work, improving access to finance, building entrepreneurial skills, ensuring access to culture across the territory, attracting investment, and building capacities within local administrations to capitalise on the role of culture as a development driver.
Supporting these measures is Colombia’s strong focus on data and evidence. The continuous refinement of national and, more recently, local culture satellite accounts provides a critical basis for evidence-driven action that can ensure that resources are channelled to where they are most needed.
A central element of Colombia’s approach, which is rarely seen within other OECD countries, is the whole- of-government integrated approach coordinated by the National Council of the Creative Economy. Recognising the transversal nature, challenges and benefits of the sector, the Council brings together ministries and services responsible for culture, employment, SME development, education, intellectual property, finance, commerce and tourism, and national planning.
Colombia’s growing policy experience with the creative economy provides a great opportunity for OECD peers to learn from. The OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions, and Cities, and its Local Employment and Economic Development Programme look forward to ensuring these lessons are widely shared and to continuing engagement with Colombia as its creative economy policies evolve.
