ASIATODAY.ID, BAKU — The cultural heartbeat of the Muslim world resonated powerfully in Azerbaijan’s capital as thousands of policymakers, artists, innovators, and cultural leaders gathered for the OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week 2025.
The high-profile event, held from 5 to 11 December 2025, strengthened Azerbaijan’s position as a rising global hub for creative industries and cultural diplomacy.
The opening ceremony, hosted at the Baku Conference Center, was attended by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture Adil Karimli, ministers from OIC Member States, and more than 5,000 international guests and officials.
Representing OIC Secretary-General H.E. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural, and Social Affairs, expressed deep appreciation to Azerbaijan for hosting the fourth edition of the festival and for its continuous leadership in elevating cultural cooperation across the Muslim world.
Cultural Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
Ambassador Bakheet underscored the strategic value of cultural activities in building strong international partnerships, fostering mutual understanding, and enriching the shared heritage of the Muslim world.
He noted that the festival’s strong focus on creative industries reflects their growing importance in driving sustainable development, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
Baku Creative Week featured an expansive program that spanned cinema, theatre, music, fashion, design, gaming, digital innovation, and start-ups. The festival welcomed more than 300 distinguished guests from over 40 countries, along with government officials, international organizations, cultural institutions, and creative economy experts.
“Baku Communiqué on Creative Industries”
On December 9, 2025, the festival concluded with the formal release of the Baku Communiqué on Creative Industries, a major strategic document outlining a shared vision among OIC Member States.
Present during the announcement were Azerbaijan’s Deputy Ministers of Culture, Mrs. Saadat Yusifova and Mr. Farid Jafarov, and the Director-General of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency, Mr. Rashad Azizov.
The communique emphasized: deeper cooperation in creative industries, joint initiatives to expand cultural diplomacy, long-term partnerships to strengthen cross-border cultural engagement, and the growing role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and heritage preservation.
Creative Industries as a Pillar of Sustainable Development
Participants highlighted that boosting collaboration in cultural and creative sectors contributes significantly to: economic diversification, youth empowerment, technological innovation, and sustainable growth aligned with the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Key festival events included the MYFORUM Cultural and Creative Industries Forum, MYEXPO Creative Village Exhibition, Baku Cinema Breeze 2025, Eastern Fashion Show, and the G HUB International Gaming Technologies Summit. These platforms encouraged new partnerships, knowledge sharing, and cross-border creative cooperation.
Delegates expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Azerbaijan for its exceptional hospitality and organizational excellence. Special recognition was extended to President Ilham Aliyev for advancing cultural cooperation within the OIC, strengthening solidarity across the Muslim world, and promoting intercultural dialogue and peace.
A New Era for Creative Cooperation in the Muslim World
The OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week 2025 is widely regarded as a turning point for creative industries cooperation among OIC Member States. The festival established a long-term platform to drive: sustainable cultural dialogue, multi-layered partnerships, creative innovation, and deeper cultural diplomacy across the region.
Participants called for the festival to be organized annually due to its vital role in promoting Islamic solidarity and advancing Joint Islamic Action. (AT Network)
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