PM Narendra Modi announces support for AVGC policies at Waves 2025

PM Narendra Modi addressing the audience at Waves 2025 | Photo: x.com/pibmumbai

Prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai on 1 May. Acknowledging the presence of all international dignitaries, ambassadors, and leaders from the creative industry, he highlighted the significance of the gathering, emphasising that over 100 countries’ artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers have come together to lay the foundation for a global ecosystem of talent and creativity.

Waves 2025 is a four-day summit aimed at positionining India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world. The summit was graced by the governor of Maharashtra C. P. Radhakrishnan, chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, as well as union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dr. L. Murugan.

“Waves is not merely an acronym but a wave representing culture, creativity, and universal connectivity”, he remarked, further underlining that the summit showcases the expansive world of films, music, gaming, animation, and storytelling, offering a global platform for artists and creators to connect and collaborate.

Narendra Modi visiting The Bharat Pavilion at Waves | Photo: x.com/pibmumbai

He highlighted the large-scale Creators Challenge and Creatosphere initiative, which saw participation from approximately one lakh creative professionals across 60 countries. He remarked that out of 32 challenges, 800 finalists have been selected, recognising their talent and congratulating them on their achievement.

The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm for the creative developments showcased at the Bharat Pavilion and the Waves Bazaar initiative which encouraged new creators and connected them with emerging markets. He praised the concept of linking buyers and sellers in the art industry, stating that such initiatives strengthen the creative economy and provide fresh opportunities for artists. He announced that Waves Awards will be launched in the future.

Emphasising the immense potential of India’s creative economy, the PM remarked, “India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, and music”. He noted the promising growth opportunities in the live concert industry and the vast potential in the global animation market, which currently stands at over US$430 billion and is projected to double in the next decade. He said that this presents a significant opportunity for India’s animation and graphics industry, urging stakeholders to leverage this expansion for greater international reach.

The Bharat Pavilion at Waves | Photo: x.com/pibmumbai

He assured that the government stands firmly behind creative professionals, supporting them through initiatives like Skill India, Startup Support, policies for the AVGC industry, and global platforms like Waves. He highlighted that this summit will serve as a major platform where creativity meets coding, software blends with storytelling, and art merges with augmented reality. He remarked that through his personal interactions with young creators, gamers, and digital artists, he has witnessed firsthand the energy and talent emerging from India’s creative ecosystem. He acknowledged that India’s massive young population is driving new creative dimensions, from reels, podcasts, and games to animation, stand-up, and AR-VR formats.

Emphasising the transformative impact of technology on the creative world, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of global coordination to harness its full potential. He remarked that this summit will serve as a bridge connecting Indian creators with global storytellers, animators with global visionaries, and transform gamers to global champions.

The summit will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. The event aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy.

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