The first edition of the Forum des Industries culturelles et créatives (Icc) in Comoros was officially opened on November 6 at the Alliance française de Moroni. The two-day event, initiated by Qamar Créatives and supported by several partners, brought together professionals from the culture sector, artists, and institutions to discuss the development of a sector facing difficulties in structuring, financing, and diffusion. The goal is to create a meeting space to foster exchanges between professionals and generate concrete proposals.
The director of the Alliance française de Moroni, Fabrice Mongiat, described the forum as a "dialogue framework" that will allow cultural actors to share their experiences, develop their networks, and formulate proposals to guide future programming and support for projects. He also mentioned the activities planned under the Cap Médias project, which will take place in November and December, including journalism training, conferences, and educational actions. The project aims to strengthen connections between media, cultural actors, and audiences.
Christophe Olivier, general director of Yas Comores, one of the partner companies, presented initiatives to support local creation, including sponsoring artists, accompanying music projects, and promoting Comorian talent abroad. He announced that the company will invest in the video game sector, supporting local developers and working to create a catalog accessible through its platforms. This is a first for Comoros, according to Olivier. He also highlighted the importance of women's entrepreneurship, with a program launched in 2025 that has already supported around thirty women.
Yazid Ben Ali, director of cabinet for the Ministry of Culture, emphasized the economic dimension of the sector, stressing that cultural and creative industries should no longer be considered secondary activities. He called for recognition of artists' status, effective protection of copyright, structuring of professional organizations, training, and access to financing and markets. Ben Ali invited participants to move beyond declarations of intent and focus on concrete projects and alliances.
The forum also heard from Etienne Chapon, French ambassador to Moroni, who addressed the challenge of allowing creators to make a living from their work and giving their works the best chance of reaching their audience. He assured that French cooperation will listen to local priorities and facilitate contacts with professionals from France and the region through training, financing, diffusion, and networking.
The various interventions highlighted the same challenges, including supporting creators, consolidating professional structures, and providing local productions with opportunities for circulation. The forum aims to create a space for discussion and the emergence of concrete proposals to develop the cultural and creative industries in Comoros.
The success of the forum will be measured by the projects and alliances that remain active six months from now, according to Yazid Ben Ali. He called on participants to make the forum a starting point for ongoing work beyond the two-day event. The French ambassador also emphasized the importance of follow-up and support for the sector.
Key points
- The forum aims to support the development of Comoros' cultural and creative industries.
- The sector faces challenges in structuring, financing, and diffusion.
- The forum brought together professionals, artists, and institutions to discuss the sector's development.
