Media, Culture, and Arts Platform

Policy Brief

Culture, Development and Society in ASEAN: Balancing Economic Development with the Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage

29 April 2026

Culture and Arts, Socio-Cultural

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This policy brief examines the role of culture-based approaches and the media sector in developing the creative economy of ASEAN Member States (AMS) as the region faces rapid digital transformation and global economic shifts. It provides suggestions on how; its rich cultural diversity and creative potential can contribute to sustainable economic development and build a regional identity.

Key Findings

ASEAN’s rich cultural diversity can support economic development.

ASEAN is home to over 1,000 languages and dialects, multiple world religions, a diverse cultural heritage, and varied artistic traditions.
This offers a foundation for creativity and that can enhance economic and social development.
The estimated value of the global creative economy market was USD 2.25 trillion in 2021 (UNCTAD), presenting a significant opportunity for ASEAN and AMS.

Culture-based approaches can boost the region’s creative economies.

ASEAN can encourage AMS to leverage their unique cultural assets and traditional knowledge to generate economic value and contribute to social development.
AMS should seek to transform their cultural heritage into innovative products and services while preserving their unique identities.
ASEAN has the potential to enhance its competitive advantage in the global creative marketplace.
Case studies and best practices from AMS may be relevant to other across the region.

Developing AMS creative economies will require media sector help.

The media can be encouraged to disseminate information about AMS cultural products and creative industries and promote cultural content across traditional and digital platforms.
ASEAN should encourage cross-border collaborations and knowledge exchange.
ASEAN should address the challenges of digital transformation, regulatory disparities, and disinformation.

Existing policy frameworks must be evaluated and enhanced.

ASEAN should support regional frameworks, such as the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025 to foster the creative economy.
Individual AMS have implemented tailored national policies (e.g., Indonesia’s ‘Making Indonesia 4.0’, Viet Nam’s cultural industries strategy).
ASEAN should enhance regional policy coordination and integration.

Challenges

Balancing cultural preservation with economic growth.
Addressing the digital divide in and between AMS.
Limited intellectual property protection and enforcement.
Mitigating brain drain from less developed to more established creative hubs.
Ensuring equitable development of creative economies across AMS.
Difficulty in translating cultural value into data.

Policy Recommendations

This policy brief suggests several recommendations to enhance the creative economies of AMS, to foster sustainable growth, promote cultural vibrancy, and strengthen regional identity. ASEAN can:

Enhance regional cooperation through networks and knowledge sharing.
Balance tradition and innovation in cultural and creative industries.
Invest in education, capacity building, and digital infrastructure.
Promote cultural exchange and creative tourism.
Strengthen intellectual property frameworks across the region.
Establish regional funding mechanisms for creative projects.
Improve data collection and analysis for policymaking.

Detailed strategies aligned with these recommendations are contained in the section on Policy Coordination and Integration Strategies. The Appendix provides detailed policy recommendations.