Over 1,500 people from across the world are expected to join a two-day gathering in Rwanda this week to promote exchanges within the creative and cultural industry, officials said on Tuesday.
Co-organized by Times Multimedia, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Rwandan government, the gathering on Friday and Saturday is dubbed Creative Africa Exchange and will feature creative talents from the music, arts and fashion sectors.
“Rwanda recognizes the creative industry as a key component of the country’s economic development and job creation, especially for the youth,” said Belise Akariza, chief of the tourism department at the Rwanda Development Board.
“Products of the creative industry are very important in driving down youth unemployment and promoting innovation,” said Temwa Gondwe, manager of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative. “We will explore ways to reawaken the industry.”
Creative industry stakeholders will use the event to address challenges facing the creative industry in Africa from funding to getting the final products to the market, said Birame Sock, program director for the event.
Government officials from 68 countries will attend the event, which will attract over two billion U.S. dollars worth of trade and investment deals, the organizers said.
