Baku: Another panel session titled “Employment Opportunities in Creative and Cultural Industries” was held as part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Cultural Festival. The participants engaged in discussions on how rich creative ideas can be translated into successful and sustainable professional activities, possibilities of adapting them to professional business models, as well as the challenges they face along the way.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the speakers included Teresa Hamlin, Founder of ‘Azerbaijani Socks’; Rasmina Gurbatova, founder and designer of Resm Jewelry; Bilal Hassam, Founder and Creative Director of Muslimplicity; Turkan Mammadova, founder of Atelier Azure; and Agahuseyn Ahmadov, Head of IDDA’s Investments and Ecosystem Support Department.
The session focused on discussions such as the path from creativity to profitable business: bringing an idea to market, managing initial resources, and developing branding strategies. It also highlighted the role of female entrepreneurs and their contribution to the development of the creative sector, alongside the social and economic challenges they face when building their brands. Additionally, the session addressed the business model built on values, focusing on building creative businesses based on Islamic values and social responsibility principles.
Further topics included the access of local brands to the global market, focusing on the promotion of “Made in Azerbaijan” brands in the international arena and increasing export potential. The role of innovation and the labor market was also discussed, emphasizing the development prospects of the creative sector as a future professional direction within the labor ecosystem of the OIC countries.