Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India’s creative and cultural industries will play a defining role in powering the country’s future economic growth, and invited global content creators and investors to make India their “content playground”.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES). The four-day event, being organised by the information and broadcasting ministry, will span the media and entertainment sector, aiming to connect content creators across segments from across the world.
Reflecting on India’s growing cultural influence, the PM said it was the right time to “create in India, create for the world”.
“The Orange Economy—rooted in content, creativity, and culture—will be a strong pillar of India’s GDP in the coming years,” Modi told a packed audience at the Jio World Convention Centre in the Banda-Kurla Complex here. “From music and film to gaming and animation, India is already making a global mark, and the possibilities ahead are infinite.”
Industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani and key faces from the film fraternity attended the event.
The PM noted that Indian films have reached audiences across the globe and pointed to how over-the-top (OTT) platforms in India have grown tenfold in recent years. “Screens are becoming micro, but messages are becoming macro,” he said.
Inviting global investors and content creators, the PM cited the nation’s rich trove of stories, talent, and tradition. “The world is looking for new ways of storytelling. India has a treasure of timeless stories, global in nature,” he said.
India’s potential, Modi noted, lies not just in its infrastructure but in its people. “To investors, I say: invest not just in platforms, but in people,” he said. And to the Indian youth, he said, “tell a billion untold stories to the world”.
“It is the responsibility of the new generation to ensure India’s stories reach every corner of the world.”
The Prime Minister also drew attention to global market opportunities, citing the $430-billion global animation market, which is expected to double in the next decade.
He also said that the live concert industry had “infinite possibilities” in India, and the country was fast becoming a global destination for music, festivals, and immersive experiences.