Jakarta, June 25- In greeting to the International Day of Music and the International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021, the embassies of Cuba and Indonesia in both capitals, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia held a virtual cultural seminar on the development of the digital music industry and the new dynamics in the music ecosystem, sponsored by the Government of the Indonesian city of Anbom.
In order to identify opportunities for cooperation between Anbom and Havana in the field of music, the event was opened by the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, and featured several speakers, namely: the Mayor of the city of Ambon, Richard Louhenapessy, the Vice Minister of Resources and Institutions, Wisnu Taruna Jaya, the Ambassador of Indonesia in Cuba, Nana Yuliana, the Ambassador of Cuba in Indonesia, Tania Velázquez López and the director of the Office of Music of the City of Ambon, Ronny Lopies.
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, thanked the speakers from both countries for their laudable contribution to strengthening cultural relations, while highlighting that collaborations like this one, between Ambon and Havana, should be an example of collaboration. in the music industry in the future.
The Director of the Office of Music of the City of Ambon, Ronny Lopies, stated that the core of the Seminar activities was based on the exchange of information, increasingly important in a network platform of creative cities based on music. He pointed out that taking into account that Ambon and Havana are musical cities, there are ample potentialities for cooperation. He pointed out that collaboration and networking between creative cities has become a common platform where there are currently 47 creative cities based on music under UNESCO, which carry out information exchange with the purpose of complementing each other, learning from each other. from a cultural perspective.
The Indonesian ambassador to Cuba, Nana Yuliana, said that today's event is an example of exchange between people, an opportunity to understand and strengthen the relationship between the peoples of both countries through music. She also noted that Cuba and Indonesia have forged solid diplomatic relations for 60 years. Indonesia has always supported uninterruptedly the Cuban Resolution for the lifting of the US blockade against Cuba and both countries support each other in international forums. She highlighted her hope that this event will result in greater cooperation between Ambon and Havana, both in the sphere of music and in commerce and education.
For her part, the Cuban ambassador to Indonesia, Tania Velázquez, thanked all those who supported the organization of this event, celebrated the year that Indonesia and Cuba commemorate their 61st. anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 120th anniversary of the birth of Sukarno, founding father of Indonesia and first Head of State who, after the triumph of his Revolution, visited Cuba, from which the relations between both nations surpass the tests of the time and distance.
When referring that Anbom and Havana are cities declared by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) "Creative Cities of Music", a definition supported by synergy: "culture and development", he stressed that Events like these illustrate how culture has the ability to bring our countries so far geographically closer together. The Cuban diplomat urged that, with the legacy of our historical leaders, continue working to celebrate events like this that enrich our cooperative relations in all areas, including cultural and people-to-people exchange.
The event also featured performances by musicians from both countries, on the Cuban side of a musical group headed by Bobby and Roberto Carcassés.
With the purpose of identifying new perspectives for cooperation and adapting the music industry to changing times, this event offered an overview of the music industry with the development of digital technology that is changing the way music is marketed and responds to an effort to reactivate the creative economy sector.
The creative economy is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world, contributing 3% of global GDP. The year 2021 was declared the International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development at the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations.
As we grapple with the climate crisis and pandemic, its potential to drive inclusive human-centered development has never been more relevant. In 2020, people found comfort and resistance in movies, series, music, and dance. This increased appreciation for the arts makes 2021 the opportune time in history to celebrate and invest in the creative economy.
Embassy of Cuba in Indonesia.