The objective of the study is to assess the economic contribution of the cultural/creative industries in CARICOM, to identify the factors constraining the global competitiveness of the sector, and to analyze the trade and investment issues with a view to formulating a strategic action plan for the development of the sector. This involves an investigation of the market structure, the economic flows and the export performance of the various sub-sectors of the cultural industries based upon primary and secondary data gathering and interviews with key industrial stakeholders and national policy makers. To this end, the study emphasizes the importance of innovation policy, industrial upgrading and export expansion, as a basis for increased competitiveness. In particular, the study identifies the emerging opportunities and challenges along with the respective strengths and weaknesses of the selected sub-sectors, as a means of identifying the strategic areas for innovation and organizational restructuring. This provides a basis upon which governments, regional organizations, non-governmental development agencies, industry associations, cultural entrepreneurs and artists can formulate policy recommendations.

http://www.crnm.org/documents/cultural_industries/Cultural_Industries_Report_Final_Jan07.pdf