Local creative industry gets backing from gov't

The Philippine government has expressed its full support to the local creative industry which involves art, animation, audio, and software engineering.

This was revealed by Jackeline Chua, managing director and co-founder of Synergy88, a digital solutions company and art studio based in the Philippines.

Chua said this after she joined the Philippine delegation at the External Development Summit held in Vancouver, Canada recently.

"The Philippine booth was sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry. And the government officials were with us that time to experience what the conference was all about. Parang bago kasi ito sa kanila. I think they are very happy and they are sponsoring another booth next year," Chua said.

Chua has cited the government's assistance in boosting trade missions abroad in the field of creative industry.

"Sa amin, bilang private companies, it's a very big help of the Philippine government when they sponsor trade missions like that. And I think they are also open to some training and then funding which is good," she said.

Chua added that the government will go full blast in supporting the local creative industry.

"The government supports this industry and I would say they've been doing it for the past years. We've been telling them that the creative industry is a big industry," she said.

"Everyone is going digital. I think the statistics right now is that half of the world's population have Internet access," Chua also said.

The XDS is the only annual, international games industry event with a primary focus on external development for art, animation, audio, software engineering, QA and localization.

Those who attended the event are concentrated group of game developers, vendors, trade organizations and middle ware providers working within external development, representing over 36 countries.

Chua said that the XDS brings together a niche community of game developers and publishers, vendors, and middle ware providers. This year, more than 500 people from 246 companies around the world took part in the summit.

"What's good about this is expo is that we get to mingle with the rest of the world who is also involve in the creative industry. With this, we could present to them what the local creative industry could offer," she said.

The event itself is composed of industry players including: the advisory committee, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and of course attendees.

Every year, they meet in Vancouver, Canada to contribute to the advancement of our industry through collaboration, sharing of best practices, networking and the delivery of a high-caliber, educational program. XDS is considered to be a professionals-only event. - ROBERT REQUINTINA

* Images from the Facebook of External Development Summit.