Integration of culture in sustainable development policies

Since ratification of the Convention in 2006, considerable efforts have been undertaken to include culture and cultural exploitation into development strategies. The National Strategy on Development and Integration considers culture as an important force for sustainable development. The emergence of the concept of cultural industries as such, has been considered important both by central and local government. An initiative of the Ministry of Economy supported by the German International Cooperation, aimed at drafting a legal framework which would give incentives to the cultural industries, more specifically to traditional crafts. The draft law is currently under revision of different stakeholders.

Being a new concept introduced and a new field it represents a big challenge to give a boost to such industries. There is a strong need of exchanging experience with other developed countries which have had concrete results in the sector.