India Takes a Giant Leap Towards Becoming a Creative Economy Hub with WAVES 2025 Initiatives

New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, unveiled a series of groundbreaking initiatives today in preparation for the highly anticipated World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025. The event, held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, was spearheaded by Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The launch event witnessed the presence of prominent personalities, including celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur,  Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati. The initiatives are designed to position India as the global capital of the creator economy, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of promoting India’s rich cultural and creative legacy on the world stage.

Speaking at the event, Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering India’s creative economy. He described WAVES as a platform to elevate the nation’s storytelling traditions, cultural heritage, and modern creative innovations. “WAVES is not just an event but a movement to make India a global hub for the creator economy. It reflects our commitment to integrating culture, creativity, and technology in a way that showcases the true potential of our Orange Economy,” he said.

A central feature of the launch was the unveiling of the WAVES Bazaar, a first-of-its-kind global e-marketplace aimed at connecting India’s creative talent with international opportunities. This platform provides tools for creators to showcase their work, pitch projects, and foster collaborations with businesses worldwide. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized that the WAVES Bazaar will revolutionize the way creators, buyers, and collaborators engage across sectors such as film, music, esports, animation, and gaming.

The event also saw the announcement of the WAVES Awards, which will celebrate excellence in creative disciplines ranging from films and games to advertising campaigns. Nominations for these prestigious awards will open on February 15, 2025. Additionally, the ministers launched three new challenges under the Create in India initiative: “Wah Ustad,” a platform for classically trained vocalists; “Make The World Wear Khadi,” aimed at positioning Khadi as a global brand; and “Resonate,” an international challenge celebrating talent in electronic dance music.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat underscored the importance of WAVES in showcasing India’s cultural diversity, describing the nation’s heritage as a vibrant crucible of storytellers, musicians, and creators. He expressed confidence that the summit would bring India’s creative talents the global recognition they deserve, adding that the WAVES platform will economically empower creators and solidify India’s position as a leader in the global creative economy.

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur also addressed the gathering, emphasizing India’s unique status as the largest content creation and consumption hub. “India’s storytelling tradition is unparalleled. From films to gaming, we are a powerhouse of cultural and digital content. WAVES is an opportunity to showcase this energy and cement our leadership in the global creative economy,” he said.

WAVES 2025 is envisioned as the world’s first integrated platform for audio, video, and entertainment, bringing together creators from around the globe. With over 70,000 registrations already received for the ongoing Create in India challenges, the summit is poised to redefine collaboration and innovation in the creative sector. Ashwini Vaishnaw encouraged creators to participate actively, describing WAVES as an unprecedented opportunity for showcasing talent, fostering global partnerships, and shaping the future of the creative economy.

As India continues to blend its rich cultural legacy with cutting-edge creative technologies, WAVES is set to transform the nation into a global hub for creators, storytellers, and innovators. This landmark initiative reaffirms the government’s vision of building a sustainable and globally impactful creative economy that honors the past while embracing the future.