Bojadzijeva Cvetkovska: “Orange Economy” among the World’s fastest-growing, a major opportunity for the region

Elena Bojadzijeva Cvetkovska, Creative Director of the Union of Macedonian Professional Associations in the Creative Industry (UMPAKI), stated that the creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and with the right legal framework and financial support, it could represent a significant opportunity for the Western Balkan countries.

“Given that the creative, or so-called orange economy, is one of the fastest-growing globally, every new package or funding opportunity unlocked for the Western Balkans is welcome. It’s a fact that all of us in the region — the Western Balkans — are small markets, but with the right strategy, legal framework, and, of course, financial support, a lot can be achieved,” Bojadzijeva Cvetkovska told Kosovo Online.

She explained that there are many positive global examples, particularly from small countries, which have significantly increased their gross domestic product — by four to ten percent — thanks to the creative economy.

“One example is Georgia, with its ‘Creative Georgia’ program. Malta is another, where GDP from the creative economy is around 10 percent,” she noted.

She added that there are already examples of collaboration in this sector within the Western Balkans.

“Along with many ongoing projects and funding already available for the Western Balkans, there are similar platforms. One of them is the regional creative industries networking initiative. The ‘Serbia Creates’ platform operates in collaboration with UMPAKI and Banja Luka, and naturally with partners from other countries who are gradually joining in,” said the UMPAKI creative director.

When asked whether the Berlin Process initiative competes with or supports the Open Balkan initiative, Bojadzijeva Cvetkovska emphasized that every initiative supporting the creative sector is welcome.

“Every positive initiative is welcome, because anything that can be used as a means of financing the Balkans is essential — especially since young people deserve to feel the benefits of such efforts,” she concluded.