2015 has started off on a good note for the animation, VFX, gaming and comics industry (AVCGI) with the Maharashtra government dropping hints about bringing the AVCGI at par with other departments like IT and IT-enabled services.
According to a report in the Business Standard, the BJP-Shiv Sena government is looking at establishing the state as an AVCG hub. In order to enable this it has proposed several measures including 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty, waiver in electricity duty, property tax at par with residential rates, exemption in entry tax, Works Contract Tax at the minimum rate and VAT at floor rate. Stakeholders have been asked to give their views on the same.
Imported units will be provided 50 per cent refund of expenses that are incurred for compulsory benchmarking such as Conformite Europeenne (CE) and China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) if the unit value is not more than Rs 2 lakh, investment promotion subsidy, refund of anchor unit subsidy equal to 25 per cent of the fixed capital investment with a minimum investment of Rs 50 crore and also create minimum 100 jobs.
For animation films that are produced and released in Maharashtra, the AVCG units will be exempted from entertainment tax. State produced films will be given a capital subsidy up to 50 per cent of production cost, subject to a maximum spending of Rs 30 lakh for creative art films, educational, scientific, mythological and children’s films.
The report quotes Maharashtra industries minister Subhash Desai as stating that the policy will seek to address the gap in qualified trainers through a train-the-trainer programme. It will also try to attract global companies by attracting outsourced international AVCG work.
“The policy envisages an environment that promotes growth of indigenous digital content, education and entertainment for masses, and the setting up of a Center of Excellence with state-of-the-art facilities,” he is quoted as saying.
AVCG centres will also be promoted by the government that will include production facilities, AVGC studios and space for performing arts, exhibition galleries and workspaces for artists. This apart, Fine Arts colleges will be established across the state and will be identified as digital art centres (DACs) to implement digital art and animation curriculum in collaboration with universities. These DACs will run on a private public partnership with 25 per cent government and 75 per cent private funding. The government contribution will be limited to Rs 10 crore.
A few weeks ago the Central government had announced its intention to set up a Communications University to boost the gaming and animation industry. To be set up within three years, it will deal with education in the sector.
