‘Created in Bangladesh’ Brand Launched to Spearhead National Creative Economy
‘Created in Bangladesh’ brand to spearhead creative economy drive
Bangladesh is set to unveil a milestone national brand, “Created in Bangladesh,” as part of a comprehensive master plan to transform the country’s creative industry into a primary engine for employment, entrepreneurship, economic growth, and national branding. Outlined in the proposed National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27), the groundbreaking initiative signals a strategic effort by the government to mainstream the creative economy and position it as a core investment in human resource development and long-term public welfare.
The government has set an ambitious target to scale the creative economy’s contribution to 1.5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while generating 500,000 new jobs within the sector. To fund this expansion, the FY27 budget proposes an initial allocation of Tk 300 crore. Additionally, a further Tk 500 crore will be mobilized through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sector of Bangladesh Bank to build a resilient foundation for the industry.
A central component of the strategy is the rapid development of modern infrastructure across the country. A world-class Central Creative Hub will be established on 160 acres of land in Purbachal under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Complementing this central facility, regional creative hubs will be set up at the divisional, district, and upazila levels, alongside dedicated spaces within the Bangladesh Shishu Academy and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Furthermore, internationally standardized, technologically advanced film studios will be constructed to accelerate the domestic film industry’s development and maximize competitive participation on global over-the-top (OTT) platforms.
To attract investment and foster young digital entrepreneurs, the FY27 budget introduces extensive tax and duty exemptions designed to eliminate production barriers. All income earned from content creation will be entirely exempt from income tax, and services provided by content creators and freelancers will receive a 100 percent exemption from the existing 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT). Customs duties on high-tech cinematographic cameras and specialized spare parts will also be sharply reduced from 15 percent to 5 percent, while regulatory duties on musical instruments will be completely withdrawn to lower setup costs for musicians and audio creators.
The “Created in Bangladesh” framework also bridges high-tech digital media with traditional cultural heritage. Rural artisans specializing in handloom products, pottery, shital pati, and other traditional crafts will be integrated into the global value chain under the expanded “One-Village, One-Product” initiative through design and quality enhancements. Concurrently, the government will provide active market-entry support to help Bangladeshi content creators and media enterprises showcase their potential at major international festivals and global markets.
Presenting the initiative to the parliament, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury highlighted the strategic rationale behind the policy shift. “The Government attaches special importance to the creative economy and seeks to develop it as an important source of employment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth,” Chowdhury said. “We believe that this promising sector can make a significant contribution as an investment in human resource development, national branding, and future welfare”.
Addressing the sweeping tax incentives, the Finance Minister added that reducing duties on essential items for high-quality content creation and filmmaking will ensure such tools remain within the reach of young creators, ultimately harnessing the intellectual potential of the promising young generation to build a globally competitive creative economy.
-BSS
