Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA) has launched a UNESCO-supported national initiative to boost the country's cultural and creative industries (CCIs), according to a joint press release on Monday.

CCIs are key drivers of economic growth, innovation, employment, and social inclusion, the release said, adding that they also play an essential role in safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting artistic expression.

"Despite this potential, the sector faces structural challenges, including limited understanding of CCls, fragmented information, and weak coordination among public institutions, private actors, and civil society," the press release said.

It added that the initiative, unveiled last week, aims to build an enabling environment through developing a new policy framework for Cambodia's CCIs and establishing the first pilot support hub for CCIs at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.

The project will also transform the cultural sector into a new engine for the national economy, it added.

Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO representative to Cambodia, said the UN agency is backing the ministry through the International Fund for Cultural Diversity to strengthen cultural governance.

"By fostering lasting institutional capacity and sustainable support for the CCIs, this project lays the foundation for a more vibrant, resilient, and inclusive creative sector," he said.

The MCFA has urged artists, cultural practitioners, creative entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and private sector partners to actively participate in the project.