India to Lead World’s Creative Economy – Key Highlights from WAVES 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated WAVES 2025 – India’s first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit – at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, launching a historic initiative to transform the nation into a global hub for creative industries.

The four-day summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” has drawn over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups from more than 90 countries. WAVES 2025 aims to unlock a $50 billion creative market by 2029, integrating sectors such as film, OTT, gaming, animation, music, AVGC-XR, digital media, AI, and emerging technologies.

Addressing a packed gathering, PM Modi greeted attendees on Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Statehood Day and welcomed international dignitaries, industry leaders, and policymakers. “WAVES is not just an acronym but a powerful wave of culture, creativity, and global connectivity,” he said. “This summit showcases India’s vision of Create in India, Create for the World.”

India’s Creative Power Takes Center Stage

PM Modi highlighted India’s long cinematic journey, recalling the release of the country’s first feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913. He paid tribute to legends like Dadasaheb Phalke, Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, A.R. Rahman, and S.S. Rajamouli for shaping global perceptions of Indian art and storytelling.

"Indian stories are not just local—they are timeless, thought-provoking, and truly global," he said, citing the Oscar-winning success of RRR and the rise of India’s OTT content worldwide. “Our micro screens are now delivering mega messages.”

Launchpad for a New Era of the Orange Economy

Calling this moment the “dawn of the Orange Economy,” PM Modi said content, creativity, and culture will be the three pillars of India’s next growth story. He spotlighted India's top rankings in fintech adoption, mobile manufacturing, and startup ecosystems as signs of the nation’s broader innovation momentum.

At WAVES 2025, PM Modi toured the Bharat Pavilion and Creatosphere, where over 800 finalists from the Create in India Challenges presented their work. The initiative attracted more than 100,000 participants from 60 countries, making it one of the largest global showcases for emerging creators.

 India’s Creative Economy Poised for Global Impact

The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s creative industries—from fashion and music to gaming and animation—will play a major role in the country’s future GDP. Citing the global animation market, valued at $430 billion and set to double by 2035, he urged Indian stakeholders to seize the opportunity and expand their global footprint.

He also launched WAVES Bazaar, a digital e-marketplace connecting over 6,100 buyers and 5,200 sellers globally, offering 2,100+ creative projects and facilitating commercial collaborations across borders.

Global Media Dialogue and Cultural Diplomacy

WAVES 2025 also marks India’s first hosting of the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) with ministerial participation from 25 countries. PM Modi used the platform to reiterate India’s civilizational ethos of openness, citing the nation’s hospitality toward communities like Parsis and Jews. “India celebrates the world’s diversity. Our creative collaboration must reflect this universal spirit,” he said.

He urged international creators to explore India’s vast storytelling legacy—ranging from the Natya Shastra and Abhijnana-Shakuntalam to modern digital narratives. “Every Indian street, mountain, and river hums a story,” he noted.

Creative Responsibility in the Age of Tech

Stressing the importance of emotional and cultural depth in an AI-driven era, PM Modi warned against losing human sensitivity. “We must not raise robots; we must raise individuals with emotional and intellectual richness. Art, music, and storytelling are our greatest safeguards.”

He positioned WAVES as a platform where “Creativity meets Coding” and “Art blends with Augmented Reality”, encouraging Indian youth—from podcasters in Kochi to game developers in Bengaluru—to shape the next global creative revolution.

India’s Moment to Lead the Global Creative Revolution

PM Modi wrapped up the event with a powerful announcement — the launch of the WAVES Awards, set to become the world’s most prestigious honor in art and creativity. He urged global investors to bet on India's creative talent, not just its platforms. “The world is ready for India’s stories,” he said. “This is India’s creative century.”

With WAVES 2025, India hasn’t just launched a media and entertainment summit — it has issued a bold declaration: the future of storytelling, content creation, and cultural influence will emerge from a billion Indian dreams.

As it marches toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy, India is placing the creative economy at the center of its growth strategy and soft power ambitions. WAVES 2025 stands as more than a summit — it’s a blueprint to build a global creative superpower.

“This is the dawn of India’s Orange Economy,” PM Modi declared. “Let us ride this wave together — and take India’s stories, music, games, and dreams to the world.”