Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury Saturday said the government wants to establish the creative industries as a mainstream part of the economy and as a source of the country's "soft power".

"Art and culture, rural handicrafts, music, cinema and theatre must be brought into mainstream economic activity, turning them into a key driver of the country's new GDP growth and building Bangladesh's soft power, or cultural strength, on the global stage," the finance minister made the remarks at the launch of the book Creative Footprints in Banani.

Noting that conventional economic thinking has long kept art and culture on the margins of economic activity, he said the present government has decided to move away from that mindset and treat the creative economy as a new component of the country's economic aspirations and growth.

"The government alone cannot implement everything," he said, adding that, alongside policy and funding, the sector will be advanced through strong partnerships with the private sector and NGOs.

The government has already allocated the necessary funds in the budget, he said, while the private sector is also coming forward with significant financing.

Outlining the government's plans, the finance minister said local craftspeople, painters and cultural workers will receive financial assistance, along with skills development, design and branding support, and marketing help through international e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Alibaba.

He expressed hope that this would ensure fair value and proper monetisation of products made by marginalised artists and artisans, improving their living standards while creating jobs and earning foreign exchange.

Stressing the importance of cultural elements in projecting Bangladesh globally, he said, "This is not merely about art, crafts or business; it is Bangladesh's soft power. Our goal is to strengthen the country's position on the world stage through music, theatre, cinema and handicrafts."

He thanked the organisers for the commendable initiative and voiced optimism that joint efforts by the public and private sectors would bring about a cultural and economic revolution in the country in the days ahead.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke attended the programme as special guest.