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As part of Expo 2025 Osaka Theme Week One: Co-creating Cultures for the Future, this session explores how cultural investments across the arts, heritage, education and creative industries can be designed to contribute positively over time, featuring the CEO of the Cultural Development Fund, Majed bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hugail, as a virtual speaker.

【Reflection】
As part of Expo 2025 Osaka Theme Week One: Co-creating Cultures for the Future, this session explores how cultural investments across the arts, heritage, education and creative industries can be designed to contribute positively over time, featuring the CEO of the Cultural Development Fund, Majed bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hugail, as a virtual speaker.

This programme focused on the significant economic and social potential of culture, highlighting its role across diverse sectors such as the arts, heritage, education, and the creative industries. The cultural sector is increasingly recognised as a contributor to GDP and employment, and specific examples from the publishing and fashion industries clearly demonstrated the sector’s capacity for growth and impact.

The session also introduced a comprehensive approach to cultural investment based on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, which considers economic, social and environmental dimensions. Innovative financing models involving partnerships with private financial institutions were presented as a means to build sustainable support systems. These efforts are helping cultural initiatives move beyond grant-based models towards becoming financially independent and self-sustaining industries.

In addition, the importance of empowering young people through culture and the strategic use of cultural identity in a globalised world were key themes. Culture was not viewed merely as something to preserve from the past, but as a driving force for social transformation and economic development in the future.

This programme reinforced the understanding that strategic investment in culture plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development. The insights shared serve as a valuable reference point for future international cooperation and policymaking in this field.


【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The initiatives introduced by the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) during the programme have continued to evolve, contributing to the sustainable growth of the cultural and creative industries in Saudi Arabia. As part of the country’s strategy to position culture as a key pillar of its economy, CDF is implementing a multifaceted approach, as outlined below:

・Cultural Financing
CDF supports the growth of the cultural and creative sectors by providing flexible funding across a range of areas, including content production, education, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.

・Beyond Financing
In addition to financial support, CDF offers capacity-building programmes to empower creators and entrepreneurs, helping them to develop the skills necessary for sustainable business operations.

・Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability
By offering tailored financial solutions based on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, CDF aims to enhance the profitability, financial stability, and global competitiveness of cultural projects.

・Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
CDF actively promotes partnerships with local and international experts to stimulate creativity, improve quality, and strengthen global cultural exchange.

These initiatives are designed to unlock the full economic and social potential of culture, both within Saudi Arabia and on the international stage. The country’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, is a key example of this commitment, and further developments are anticipated as CDF continues to lead efforts in sustainable cultural investment.