SHAH ALAM, Sept 23 — Selangor’s position as Asia’s gateway as well as the nation’s economic powerhouse is driving the administration to further explore the creative industry.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the initiative will also create many job opportunities and unlock more creative talent among the state's residents, enabling them to reach greater heights.
Focusing on this sector also allows Selangor to strengthen its identity through arts and culture, rather than being known solely as an economic force.
“Moving forward, we must broaden our scope to include the creative economy so that Selangor’s youth can become creative ambassadors in Asia. There are many areas to explore, such as e-sports, music, fashion, cultural heritage, animation, performing arts, contemporary art, and film.
“All of these can generate job opportunities by tapping into their skills and creativity. If realised, it will have positive spill-over effects on other industries, including tourism, education, and manufacturing.
“I am confident that if we move quickly, investment in this sector could reach RM1 billion by 2030. This will open the door to the international economy,” he said in his virtual message at the Selangor Creative Economy Expo 2025 (SCEE25) today.
Earlier, the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin officiated SCEE25's launch, which runs today and tomorrow at the MBSA Convention Centre.
Amirudin added that the organisation of SCEE25, themed ‘Re:Imagine Selangor – Creativity is the New Economy’, marked the first step towards achieving that goal.
Through various programmes, including CRE8Biz Xchange, CRE8Fund, and CRE8Stage, the expo supports the state’s efforts to attract investors and build a connected business ecosystem.
“CRE8Fund will provide initial funding of RM100,000 to support high-potential projects, while CRE8Stage will nurture creative talent and expression through pitching sessions and festivals.
“This is the holistic ecosystem we will build — from talent to market, from ideas to investment, from art to economy and quality manufacturing,” he said.
