National AVGC Policy will be delivered though the National Mission for AVGC: Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
The 5th Global AVGC and Immersive Media Summit 2024, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is being held on August 21 & 22, 2024, to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators for in-depth discussions on the latest trends, technologies, and creative approaches in the AVGC sector.
Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the imminent implementation of the National AVGC-XR Policy, which will be delivered alongside the National AVGC-XR Mission. This policy is set to provide a comprehensive framework to boost the AVGC sectors and aims to enhance India's global competitiveness by fostering infrastructure development, skill enhancement, innovation, and supportive regulatory measures.
He emphasized India's competitive edge in exporting AVGC services and stressed the importance of creating original intellectual properties (IPs) that resonate globally. He emphasized that while exporting services is crucial, the future of the industry lies in developing iconic characters and stories that achieve global recognition. He noted that technological advancements now make it easier to adapt and translate content for diverse global audiences, positioning Indian IPs for success on the world stage. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the AVGC industry through robust policies and financial backing.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship emphasized the government's dedication to the AVGC sector, including a new project to revamp 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to meet industry demands. He underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and the AVGC industry, particularly in developing clusters in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which show strong growth potential. He encouraged the industry to actively participate in upskilling initiatives, especially through models like the hub-and-spoke system, which can help scale skill development and create employment opportunities.
A key feature at the summit was the launch of the knowledge report FX & Beyond: Shaping India's AVGC Landscape, developed in collaboration with Grant Thornton Bharat. This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolving AVGC sector, highlighting emerging trends, opportunities, and a futuristic vision for the industry. Based on primary research and interviews with industry experts, the report addresses sector challenges, such as skill shortages and high technology costs, and provides strategic recommendations for unlocking the true potential of Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).
Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to Govt of Telangana, Industries & Commerce Department, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications Department emphasized that international interest in India is growing, not only due to its large market but also because of its emerging role as a hub for high-quality content creation and innovation. He highlighted Telangana’s pioneering efforts in the Media, Entertainment, and Gaming (MEG) sector through its IMAGE policy, which stands for Innovation, Multimedia, Animation, Gaming, and Entertainment. Telangana is at the forefront of this revolution, having implemented a comprehensive and business-friendly policy years ago. He also emphasized the importance of skilling and mentioned that Telangana is actively engaging with top global institutions to bring high-quality training programs to Hyderabad. The IMAGE Tower will house these skilling facilities, further supporting the industry’s growth.
Ms. Ruchi Bindal, Deputy Secretary, Department of ITBT, Govt of Karnataka emphasized Karnataka’s proactive role in advancing the AVGC sector through established Centres of Excellence, focusing on providing infrastructure, skilling, and market access for startups. The state is investing significantly for AVGC and gaming centres and offering seed grants to startups. Karnataka's policies support various incentives, including funding for skilling, employment, and early-stage startup support, along with reimbursement for patents and quality certifications. She also highlighted the state's hub-and-spoke model, extending support beyond Bengaluru to other cities.
Mr. Biren Ghose, Chair - CII Sub Comm. on AVGC, Vice Chair - CII National M&E Comm. Managing Director- Asia Pacific, Technicolor Group delivered a strategic vision for India's AVGC industry, advocating for a shift from a defensive to an offensive global strategy. He highlighted the industry’s impressive growth but cautioned that more proactive efforts are needed to position India as a global leader. He stressed the importance of leveraging India’s talent and technological advancements to expand the industry’s global reach. He also called for a united front among stakeholders, including content creators, distributors, OTT platforms, and government entities, to drive the industry forward.
In his closing remarks, he reflected on the discussions, emphasizing key words that encapsulate the summit's themes: confluence, content, context, convergence, creativity, character, consumption, curriculum, connections, and copyright. These concepts, he noted, are critical to the future success of the AVGC industry.
The summit witnessed participation of 300+ stakeholders from different subsectors of AVGC industry and features over 50 speakers and more than 10 plenary sessions that delve into crucial aspects of the AVGC industry. Key topics include the "hub and spoke" model for regional AVGC development, the advancement of the National Centre of Excellence, and the global impact of successful Indian AVGC products. Sessions will also cover the influence of AI and emerging technologies, strategies for growing technical and creative talent, successful co-productions, building sustainable gaming communities, innovations in VFX and real-time technologies and the promotion of India’s AVGC achievements internationally.
Quotes
National AVGC-XR Policy to be implemented soon in tandem with the National AVGC-XR mission ~ Shri Sanjay Jaju ,Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
We need to build complete ecosystems where high-end content is produced and taken across the world to create economic and employment potential on a large scale ~ Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Our initiative to revamp 1000 ITIs is pivotal in aligning workforce skills with AVGC industry needs. By focusing on skill development and regional growth, we are poised to significantly advance the sector's capabilities and job opportunities ~ Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skills & Entrepreneurship.
21 August 2024
New Delhi