British Council Partners with Tamil Nadu to Boost Creative Economy

New Delhi, 27 September 2024: The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, and Guidance Tamil Nadu, the investment promotion agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the creative economy and cultural industries of the state. This is in line with the aims of Guidance, Tamil Nadu, and its work to position the state as a premier investment destination by streamlining business processes and reducing operational costs.

Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu and Oliver Ballhatchet MBE British Deputy High Commissioner, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry presided over this MOU exchange. The MOU was exchanged between Janaka Pushpanathan, Director South India, British Council and Mr V Vishnu, IAS, MD & CEO, Guidance

Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu said, “The State of Tamil Nadu and the British Council have collaborated very successfully over the past several years, and I am pleased that Guidance Tamil Nadu and the British Council are now partnering on the theme of creative economy and cultural industries, a significant priority for the State. This marks another important milestone in the Tamil Nadu–UK partnership. By joining forces, I am confident we will nurture an environment where young artists and entrepreneurs can thrive, contributing to the state’s economic growth and cultural vibrancy. This partnership underscores our commitment to the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. MK Stalin’s vision of a Trilion Dollar Economy by fostering innovation and creating lasting opportunities for the youth of the State.”

Janaka Pushpanathan, Director South India, British Council said, “We have had a long-standing relationship with the Government of Tamil Nadu and are pleased to collaborate once more to nurture talent and drive economic prosperity through the creative economy. By leveraging the combined expertise of both the UK and Tamil Nadu, our aim is to unleash the boundless potential of the creative industries within the state, thereby providing youth with enriched avenues for success. This initiative marks a significant step in our ongoing partnership with the state, and we are dedicated to working closely together to ensure it leads to improved outcomes for fostering sustainable livelihoods.”

Oliver Ballhatchet MBE British Deputy High Commissioner Chennai representing the UK in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry said “The MoU is a significant step to further strengthen ties between the UK and the Government of Tamil Nadu and thereby build a strong ecosystem for the creative economy and cultural industries in the State. I congratulate the British Council and Guidance Tamil Nadu for this initiative and wish this collaboration utmost success.”

The MOU outlines several key areas of collaboration, including:

• Assessing the contribution of the creative economy and cultural industries to employment and gross value added (GVA) in Tamil Nadu, leveraging the expertise of both the UK and Tamil Nadu.
• Providing insights to facilitate policy dialogue on Tamil Nadu’s creative economy between government stakeholders and sector leaders.
• Identifying growth potential in tech art, festivals, crafts, and the ‘influencer’ economy to foster sustainable livelihoods.
  Establishing a roadmap for future research partnerships between Tamil Nadu and the UK in the creative industries and laying the groundwork for long-term policy frameworks.
• This MOU aims to shine a spotlight on the State’s creative economy, nurturing the aspirations of its creative professionals while fostering overall economic development. The collaboration seeks to create an environment conducive to the growth of young artists, arts and tech companies, and entrepreneurs, with a specific focus on areas such as tech art, festivals, AVGC, music, and crafts, to support sustainable livelihoods and spur digital innovation.