From Development of Creative Industries to Preservation of Historical Cities of CIS Countries: Opportunities and Powers of Municipalities Discussed in Almaty

A meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS on Practices of State-Building and Local Government took place in Almaty (Kazakhstan).

The meeting was chaired by Chair of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on State Building, Local Government and Regulations Valentin Semenyako. He recalled that in 1992, the heads of parliaments of the Commonwealth countries signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS in Almaty.

Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on Industrial Policy, Transport, Fuel and Energy Complex, Architecture and Construction Bakhridin Shabazov was elected Deputy Chair.

Preparation for the seminar “Creative Industries: Best Practices in Commonwealth Countries” became one of the key topics. Discussions will include monitoring of the creative sector across the region.

Member of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Science, Education and Culture Olga Shchetinina emphasized that creative economy development supports economic growth, preserves cultural identity and strengthens cooperation between countries. She noted that the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS adopted the Model Law on Creative Industries and facilitated a cooperation agreement between film companies of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. She also highlighted projects “Commonwealth of Fashion” and the international tourism forum Travel Hub “Commonwealth” as important platforms.

General Director of the Union of Russian Cities Andrey Maksimov outlined key topics for the seminar, including tax incentives, intellectual property protection, integration of creative industries into urban development, workforce training and export potential.

Chair of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg on Legislation Vsevolod Belikov presented data on the contribution of creative industries to the city’s economy.

Participants also reviewed progress on a new edition of the glossary of terms used in legislative drafting in the field of state building and local self-government, and discussed the application of model laws in national legislation, as well as preparations for a seminar on best practices of local self-government in CIS countries.