Innovative products produced in villages will be delivered to the mainstream markets of the country and abroad. Traditional products will be upgraded to world standards using modern technology. Branding and market linkages will be expanded by adding aesthetics to the design. Through this, the rural economy will be strengthened. This will employ about 15 million men and women. Among them, women’s employment and financial empowerment will be given priority. This information has been found in an action plan of the National Steering Committee formed by several ministries and departments of the government. The first meeting of the Creative Economy Committee is being held today to implement this goal.
Under the ‘One Village, One Product’ program, the products produced by marginalized artisans will be made suitable for the international market. For this, a Central Creative Hub will be built on 160 acres of land in Purbachal. Today’s meeting will review the implementation progress of the creative economy. In addition, the progress of sector-wise roadmap and action plan formulation activities will be reviewed, said several members of the committee.
It is learned that in addition to the proposal to directly allocate Tk 3 billion in the current 2026-27 fiscal year budget for the creative economy sector, there is a plan to collect another Tk 5 billion from the CSR fund of Bangladesh Bank. The activities of this committee are important in establishing the creative economy as an independent economic sector and creating coordination between public and private initiatives.
A source in the Finance Ministry said that the government aims to increase the contribution of the creative industry to the country’s GDP to 1.5 percent. To achieve this goal, there are plans to launch a national brand called ‘Created in Bangladesh’, establish international-standard film studios, develop the OTT sector and showcase domestic creative products in the international market. In addition, there are plans to develop a cultural district in the future centered around the Central Creative Hub in Purbachal. As part of this, the government is working to develop rural artisans and include them in the economy by implementing the ‘One Village, One Product’ policy.
It is learned that under the ‘One Village, One Product’ program, it has been planned to initially start pilot projects on Shitalpati, Shatranji, weaving, pottery and weaving. In stages, a potential product from each village of the country will be identified and turned into a distinct brand. Through this initiative, the aim is to reach international buyers with the products produced by local artisans through modern design, quality packaging, branding and market linkages.
It is learnt that the feasibility of implementing the ‘One Village, One Product’ program in different areas of the country has been examined over the past year. Work needs to be done at the local level to determine which products are produced in which areas and how they can be branded and marketed.
It is known that employment opportunities will be created in various sectors of the entire chain, from production to marketing of a village-based product. First, the work of weavers, artisans, potters, bamboo and rattan artists, farmers, food processors, and other skilled craftsmen will increase in the production sector. Second, the need for machine operators, packaging workers, labeling and preservation workers will increase in the processing and packaging sector. Third, the employment of product designers, quality inspectors, product development officers, and technical trainers will increase in the quality control and design sector. Fourth, the demand for collectors, warehouse workers, drivers and delivery workers will increase in the transportation and logistics system. In addition, opportunities will be created for salespeople, market liaison officers, e-commerce entrepreneurs, digital marketers and export facilitators in the marketing and sales sector. Rural tourism, exhibition and sales center-based employment can also be developed around these products.
The steering committee members said that while the creative economy has great potential, experts believe that there are several challenges in implementation. According to them, training or modern design alone is not enough to take a village artisan’s product to the international market. What is needed is quality raw materials, advanced production systems, packaging, branding, e-commerce, easy bank loans, copyright and GI protection, quality certificates and direct contact with international buyers.
Former Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told Amar Desh that the biggest potential of the creative economy lies in self-employment. Thailand has achieved success with the One Village Ward product. It would be good if we could do this here. If rural traditions are combined with modern technology, design, and international markets, the creative economy can become a source of new employment and export earnings for the country.
