Exploring Bold Innovations: Moldova's Ascension into the International Creative Marketplace
Moldova is set to make a significant impact at Expo 2025 Osaka, showcasing its growing contributions to the digital entertainment sector. The special segment, "Moldova Meets Japan: A Journey through Anime and Gaming," will highlight the country's creative potential.
Moldova's creative economy is attracting international interest and investment, with over 2,700 companies in its creative services sector and more than 13,000 professionals working within it. The sector is closely linked to the ICT industry, which benefits from supportive government policies, such as a flat tax of 7% offered to resident IT companies in Moldova's IT Park.
One of the standout figures in Moldova's creative industry is Lidia Scarlat, a creative producer and international connector. She has curated custom teams for global studios and brands, including Netflix, OFFF, and Microsoft. Another notable name is Mihai Stamati, an award-winning industrial designer whose works have been featured at prestigious design weeks in Stockholm, Vienna, and Saint-Etienne.
Seven standout Moldovan companies, members of the Creative Industries Association COR, will showcase their talent and innovation at Expo 2025 Osaka. These include bully! entertainment, a global player in immersive content (VR/AR, WebAR), with a portfolio including Microsoft, Ford, NASA, Avatar, PwC, and past work in Japan for the Rugby World Cup and Adidas' Tokyo Marathon campaign. Other companies include Profile Communications, a full-service creative and communication agency, NRG Media specializing in immersive multimedia and Unreal Engine-powered installations, and Racketa Production, innovators in immersive storytelling and AR experiences.
Casa Imago, a design and branding studio, is another key player. They are trusted by Crunchyroll for localizing creative campaigns across markets and specialists in culturally fluent visual communication. Influential Japanese figures and entities like Crunchyroll have contributed to shaping Moldova's engagement in digital storytelling.
Discussions are underway to extend similar incentives to creative industries in Moldova, further boosting its growth. Moldova's participation at Expo Osaka 2025 aims to establish its creative industry on the international stage, with competitive professionals, strong partnerships, and institutional support.
Japanese support has modernized cultural venues in Moldova, increasing public interest in the sector. The country's digital creative talent, including designers, animators, sound engineers, and multimedia producers, is another reason for its growing recognition.
Moldova's creative sector is poised for significant growth, thanks to international collaboration, including with Japanese creative institutions and professionals. Its participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is a testament to this growth and a promising sign of things to come. On July 19, representatives of Invest Moldova Agency and the Creative Association of Moldova will host a workshop at Expo 2025 Osaka to further showcase Moldova's creative potential.
