Time to create in India, create for world: Modi

Inaugurating India's first four-day World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it marked the dawn of a new orange economy in India with content, creativity and culture serving as its three pillars.

- Shuchi Bansal

Orange economy is the global term for the creative sector, and spans films, television, gaming, design and fashion.

The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering of over 5,000 people, including film stars, content creators, media and entertainment industry stakeholders, foreign delegates and policymakers. A showcase of India's media and entertainment prowess, the WAVES summit, organised by the ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the government of Maharashtra, aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding the country's footprint in the global entertainment economy.

It was time, said Modi for the world to "Create in India." He called upon India's young creators to drive the nation's orange economy forward. The government stands firmly behind creative professionals, supporting them through initiatives such as Skill India, Startup Support, policies for the AVGC Industry, and global platforms like WAVES, the prime minister said.

"WAVES will serve as a major coding, where software blends with storytelling, and art merges with augmented reality," he said. He urged young creators to make the most of this opportunity and to dream big.