His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday launched the Innovative and Creative Youth Exposition 2011 held at the Multipurpose Hall of Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. Forty-two participants have filled up 70 booths at the expo.

The exposition is organised in conjunction with the 6th National Youth Day celebration as part of the activities by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to showcase the talents and various activities by youths for three days, from September 26 to 281.

The objectives of the expo are to promote the entrepreneurial sector as a career path for youth in the country, especially in efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment; to expose and promote the creative industry and the potential opportunities to be explored by youths; to help youth entrepreneurs, employees and artists to promote their products and services and to display their talents in the creative industry; as well as to give the opportunity for youth entrepreneurs and talented youths to interact and expand their business network with others.

This year's theme is "Creative and Innovative Youths: A Driving Force for the Development of the Creative Industry". The expo is divided into three categories, namely, the Creative Multimedia Industry, Creative Culture Industry, and Creative Design Industry.

For the Creative Multimedia Industry, among the products that are featured include production houses, animations, photography and publishing, advertisement, IT and software service, website designing mobile application as well as digital and computer application.

In the Creative Culture Industry category, among the products that are featured include Mushaf and local arts literature, performance arts (stage act, dance and theatre), painting, handicraft products and locally produced books and manuscripts.

For the final category, Creative Design Industry concentrates on architecture, interior design, fashion designing and textile, industrial design and halal products

The three-day exposition is open to the public for free from 8am to 5pm. - Borneo Bulletin (27th September 2011)