FTI Consulting and the World Governments Summit have launched a report showing that the creative economy is now central to national economic strategy.
Titled “Creative Futures: The Springboard for Sustained Economic Growth and Diversification,” the study provides governments with a roadmap to leverage cultural and creative industries for prosperity, innovation and international influence.
The report highlights a significant shift in economic thinking. Sectors including film, music, performing arts, publishing, design, gaming, architecture and digital content creation are no longer peripheral but essential engines of growth. Globally, the creative economy was valued at around $2.25 trillion in 2020, representing 3.1 percent of GDP and employing 6.2 percent of the workforce. Every $1 invested generates approximately $2.50 in wider economic output, boosting tourism, manufacturing and urban services.
Antoine Nasr, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting Middle East, said the report shows that creativity is a cornerstone of economic strategy.
“By integrating governance, financing, talent development and global engagement, governments can unlock transformative value from the creative economy, driving innovation, job creation and international influence,”
he added.
The report outlines key strategies for governments, including cross-ministerial governance to convert creative potential into measurable impact, innovative financing mechanisms to overcome investment barriers, and embedding creativity and entrepreneurship into education to build a future-ready workforce. It also emphasises the role of creative exports in strengthening cultural diplomacy and global competitiveness.
Concluding on a strategic note, the report warns that countries acting decisively today will shape global cultural industries for decades. Those that delay risk becoming consumers of culture rather than producers, missing a generational opportunity to harness creativity as a driver of sustained economic growth.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
