The Ministry of Culture and the British Council-Skopje have agreed to cooperate in the development of creative industries in Macedonia this year. The agreement includes activities aimed at encouraging skill development, enhancing the cooperation between the sectors of culture and economy with an ultimate goal to use the creative potential for economic development.

The document was signed by Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska and British Council Director Eleonora Zaprova, thus making the cooperation between the institutions official. The cooperation, which started 2009, resulted in several activities, workshops, conferences, including the brochure "Mapping Creative Industries in Macedonia", as well as the Forum on Creative Industries held last year in Skopje.

Trainings financed by the Ministry and the Council will take place later this year, while visitors will have an opportunity to get acquainted with experiences from creative industries in Malta, Slovenia, Estonia and Great Britain. Three IT and design trainings will be organized in Macedonia, according to the model developed by the UK Agency for Creativity and Innovations NESTA.

"Creative industries are a perspective and profitable area offering opportunities to present skills, imagination and talent. With support provided by the British Council, top experts in the field of creative industries have visited Macedonia who supported the creation of cultural policies in Europe and beyond. The agreement is in the spirit of our efforts to stimulate young creative people to realize serious commercial projects in the field and the business community to be encouraged to use this significant resource," said Kanceska-Milevska.

Five years ago, the Ministry of Culture adopted a strategy developing creative industries in Macedonia, which includes developing policies for architecture, design, fashion, music, theater, film, TV, publishing, etc.

Great Britain is a leader in creative industries in the past 20 years, according to the British Council director, Eleonora Zaprova. Nearly two million people are employed in the sector contributing to the country's GDP with 8%.

"According to data provided by NESTA, over 180.000 creative businesses are expected to be opened in 2013 generating new 150.000 jobs. The British Council as an organisation focusing on values such as creativity, professionalism and mutual support, plays the role of an initiator of new international cooperation, fresh ideas and a creator of an atmosphere for dialogue between institutions," Zaprova stated.