ASEAN-Korea Centre discusses design industry, creative economy in Malaysia

Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) is hosting a seminar on the design industry and creative economy in Melaka, Malaysia, from Tuesday to Friday.

The outbound mission consists of a seminar followed by B2B meetings, and will highlight the significance of the creative economy and design industry as catalysts for growth within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. This sector has driven the region's economic development, showcasing a steady annual average growth rate of 6 percent from 2003 to 2021.

Held in cooperation with the Malaysia Design Council and Office of Melaka State Secretary, the seminar brings together public and private stakeholders as well as businesspeople and buyers in the design and creative industries from Korea and five ASEAN member states: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

AKC Secretary-General Kim Hae-yong said the mission is meaningful in that it connects culture and industry, creating tangible outcomes from intangible values.

“The outbound mission will serve as an opportunity to expand the scope of trade and investment between ASEAN and Korea, as well as for strengthening ASEAN-Korea cooperation," Kim said in a statement.

The seminar, which will be held on July 6 at Double Tree by Hilton Melaka, is divided into three main sessions: Session 1 will cover the policy frameworks and impacts of the design industry on the creative economy, featuring presentations by related government agencies from the participating nations. Session 2 will offer insight into investment opportunities in Malaysia's design industry, while Session 3 will feature presentations on related technology and future projects by 15 representatives from ASEAN and Korean design companies.

Following the seminar, a B2B meeting session has been arranged for representatives and relevant stakeholders from Malaysia and Korea with an emphasis on those in the Melaka area. The program also includes an industrial site visit, where the delegation will meet local design entrepreneurs and companies in Malaysia.

The AKC is no stranger to fostering such regional cooperation as it organized an outbound mission to Thailand in 2022, targeting five Mekong countries ― Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam ― to enhance cooperation and discuss policies on sustainable water resource management.