The International Seminar on Creative Economy, held this Tuesday (16), in Rio de Janeiro, presented viable paths for building new mechanisms for promoting, financing and expanding access to credit for small businesses in the sector. The Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, stated that cultural diversity places Brazil in a privileged position on the international scene and warned of the need to overcome limited views on the role of culture in national development.
Seminar discussed national and international experiences to strengthen the creative economy
“Culture is not ancillary. It is a fundamental part of sustainable development, social cohesion and valuing the diversity that characterizes Brazil”, highlighted the minister. According to her, the plurality of cultures, knowledge, territories and expressions is one of the country’s greatest assets and a strategic differentiator to face the challenges of development.
The seminar’s debates were directly in line with the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed between Sebrae and the Ministry of Culture, in October 2024, which structured a national agenda for joint action to strengthen the creative economy across the country.
The results of the partnership already reach the 27 federative units through the Culture and Creative Economy Network. Currently, 15 states are implementing their work plans in 2026 and another seven are in the planning phase. The five Brazilian regions participate in the strategy, which is already developing actions in ten cities, has 208 ongoing activities and has benefited more than 3,500 people, with a special focus on communities in situations of greater social vulnerability.
During the event, the president of Sebrae, Rodrigo Soares, highlighted that the institution has worked to expand financing opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. Today, more than 111 thousand micro and small companies are part of the creative economy segment in Brazila sector recognized for its dynamism, innovation and potential for generating employment and income.
“Access to credit is still one of the main challenges faced by small businesses. Therefore, we have expanded guarantee mechanisms and guarantee funds, which help entrepreneurs obtain the necessary resources to invest and to grow”
Rodrigo Soares, president of Sebrae
For MinC’s Creative Economy Secretary, Cláudia Leitão, expanding access to financing is a fundamental condition for consolidating culture as a vector of economic and social development. “We need to build an increasingly favorable environment for creative entrepreneurs to have access to credit, investment and instruments suited to the specificities of culture and creativity. This seminar brings together national and international experiences that can inspire new paths to strengthen the creative economy as a sustainable development strategy for Brazil”, he states.
In addition to financial support, Sebrae offers guidance and monitoring to strengthen business management and has advanced the internationalization agenda. In partnership with ApexBrasil, the institution prepares micro and small companies to access international markets, taking advantage of opportunities opened up by commercial agreements and the growing global demand for Brazilian products and services.
At the end of the seminar, Rodrigo Soares reinforced that strengthening the creative economy requires integrated action between governments, institutions, civil society and communities. “Sebrae is an active part of this construction. We have the responsibility to support initiatives that generate decent income, citizenship and opportunities for the population. Culture and the creative economy play a strategic role in the development of Brazil and will continue to rely on our commitment to expand their economic and social impact”, he concluded.
Source: www.agenciasebrae.com.br
