CEA presents "Creative Business Connext" : New chapter of Thailand's Creative Economy

Mr. Chakrit Pichyangkul, The Executive Director of CEA, reveals that Thailand's creative economy tends to grow every year. It can be seen that the value of Thai creative industries is approximately 1.1 trillion THB, or 6.81% of Thailand's GDP in 2021. The key drives of the creative economy include creative businesses and the creative workforce. Currently, there are total of 82,072 creative businesses in Thailand, most of which are small businesses. However, these businesses can generate revenue exceeding 1.5 trillion THB to the overall sector and provide employment opportunities for over 889,275 creative workers. In the following year, 2022, the number of creative workers increased to 963,549 people.

The top three creative businesses that generate revenue include software animation, advertising, and cultural tourism. However, the top three creative workers are Craft & Art with over 200,000 workforces followed by Advertising and Design.

"As the growth of creative businesses effecting to the overall Thai Economy, CEA, as the key government organization inaugurated to drive Thailand's creative economy, aims to promote and support the development of creative ideas through diverse forms of knowledge through 'CREATIVE BUSINESS CONNEXT'. This event is a new milestone to elevate Thailand's creative economy by igniting and inspiring Thai creators and creating a network of creative communities for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and new opportunities. Moreover, this initiative enables them to broaden their global perspectives and allow them to adapt to the ever-changing world and enhance the competitiveness of the country's economy.

CREATIVE BUSINESS CONNEXT comprises three main activities: Creativities Unfold, Creative Business Space, and Creative Excellence Awards. Here are the intriguing and noteworthy details of each format:

1. Creativities Unfold: a platform to showcase ideas and visions by contemporary thought leaders from Thailand and all over the world. This year, there are 5 Thai and International creative visionaries who will take the stage to share their new perspectives on creativity under the theme "VISIONAIRE: Reminisce-The Way Forward" including:

Jaime Hayon: a Spanish designer who is regarded as one of the contemporary world's creative visionaries. In the topic: "Design Follows Function, and Then What?"

PP - Pat Pataranutaporn: a technologist, researcher, and student at the MIT Media Lab who is fascinated by the creative synergy of human power and AI. In the topic: "Human + AI for the Future of Entertainment & Storytelling"

Kentaro Kimura: a Japanese creative visionary in the world's leading advertising and media industry. In the Topic: "Unimagined Cultural Solutions: A Global Journey into the Future Creativity"

Stephen Jenner: one of the world's foremost mass communications experts, a revered advisor in the world film industry, and a thought leader in the creative media and film industry. In the topic: "Mission Possible: The Rise & Rise of the Asia Pacific Screen Industry"

Lyndon Neri: an Asia's architectural marvel who has graced the world with intriguing designs through fascinating architectural designs. In the topic: Liminality

2. Creative Business Space: New business platform for creative studios and business services to network with more than 80 establishment business prospects under the Creative Gastronomy category. This platform aims to boost and foster the growth of service and culinary businesses in the creative sector throughout Thailand. These businesses include restaurants, cafes, hotels, and retail stores, all of which strive to have unique selling points and create new experiences to thrive in their businesses.

This is the opportunity to meet and visit a diverse range of studio creators and service-oriented businesses including Space & Experience Design, Branding & Creative Content, Music, Food Design & Stylist, and Immersive Technology a showcasing their products and services.

3. Creative Excellence Awards or CE Awards: The first-ever award ceremony of honor of excellence in creative thinking by CEA to promote individuals, communities, business operators, offices, organizations, or institutions that have initiated, conceived, driven, or crafted products, services, tools, or processes by applying creativity to generate value and create impact in the economic, social, or environmental aspects, contributing to the sustainable growth of the country. The CE Awards consists of 15 awards under three main categories, namely:

1) Creative City Awards: to recognize efforts contributed by communities and local legends to transform into tourism boosters, generating revenues for the zone with their uniqueness.

2) Creative Business Awards are divided into 2 categories: (1) Sustainability Awards, given to products / services / projects that focus on sustainability. (2) Value Creation Awards, given to businesses using creativity to add value in a positive way.

3) Creative Social Impact Awards: to recognize creative efforts and initiatives in resolving social issues aligned with the SDGs, such as health and well-being, senior citizen life quality, education, and social equality.

"We believe that CREATIVE BUSINESS CONNEXT enables to promote, extend, and enhance the capabilities of creative personnels. It serves as a platform to connect and foster a stage for creative ideas, creating a network of innovative businesses, and promoting the development of personnel and organizations that initiate creative thinking for national progress. This event also strengthens the creative community to be equivalent to the international level in the future." Mr. Chakrit concluded.