Kyrgyzstan champions cultural industries and AI regulation

Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, emphasized the critical role of cultural cooperation and creative industries in bolstering national identity and state competitiveness during an international conference in St. Petersburg. He stated that these elements extend beyond humanitarian concerns, becoming vital for human capital development and a nation's standing on the global stage.

Kasymaliev observed that the Eurasian region is undergoing significant transformation, with traditional economic models shifting. However, he asserted that deep-rooted cultural ties remain a strong unifying force. He stressed the need to adapt these ties to modern innovations, identifying creative industries as a key tool for transforming cultural heritage into a tangible economic sector. This, he explained, generates employment, particularly for young people, and fosters high-tech exports.

Highlighting Kyrgyzstan's strategic approach, Kasymaliev described a synergistic model where personal spiritual development forms the foundation, supported by large-scale infrastructure investment, and driven by the creative economy as a high-tech growth engine. He reported a substantial increase in state investment in culture over the past three years, rising from $32 million to $105 million, more than tripling the amount. Additionally, wages for workers in the cultural sector have doubled.

The adoption of the Law on the Creative Industries Park in 2022 has introduced preferential conditions for creative businesses, with residents paying a unified tax of just 1 percent of revenue. The park currently hosts 165 resident companies. Kasymaliev also proposed leveraging the 100th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov and the 200th anniversary of Leo Tolstoy to engage a new digital generation. Furthermore, he addressed the burgeoning issue of artificial intelligence, noting its rapid integration into all spheres, including culture, has created a copyright crisis and a legal vacuum across Eurasia. He called for the joint development of unified rules and digital mechanisms to safeguard intellectual property in the AI era, concluding, "Artificial intelligence creates algorithms. Humans create meaning. Let us preserve and multiply the intellectual capital of our peoples."

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Artificial intelligence creates algorithms. Humans create meaning. Let us preserve and multiply the intellectual capital of our peoples.