India Unveils Orange Economy Roadmap at First WAVES Summit
The World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), held in Mumbai in from 1-4 May, 2025, brought together a cross-section of India’s creative industries at a scale not seen before. Organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the NFDC, the summit served as a working space for policymakers, producers, streamers, and educators to align on how India can expand its presence in the global content economy. With formal partnerships, incentive schemes, and infrastructure plans on the table, WAVES signalled a shift from fragmented ambition to coordinated intent.
With participation from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google TV, ZEE Studios, and delegates from many countries, the summit combined business intent with cultural diplomacy. Dozens of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, and policy tools were unveiled to strengthen India’s audiovisual sectors as export-ready industries.
Creativity as Economic Infrastructure: In his keynote address, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called for a reframing of the creative sector from soft power to strategic economic lever. “Cinema and content creation are engines for employment, investment and global influence,” he said. The summit served as a launchpad for the updated Incentive Scheme for Audio-Visual Co-Production and Filming in India, which offers rebates of up to 40% on qualifying production costs. Crucially, it aligns with larger national initiatives Digital India, Skill India, and Make in India placing creative enterprise firmly within the government’s broader economic vision.
Building an Orange Economy Roadmap: The global Orange Economy, encompassing design, digital media, film, and culture-driven tourism, is estimated to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. WAVES laid out a detailed roadmap for India’s contribution, with tax reliefs, infrastructure support for regional production hubs, and intellectual property safeguards.
Global Partnerships Get Real: India signed key co-production and talent development pacts with countries like France and Saudi Arabia. Several Indo-French projects are already in the pipeline, ahead of India’s spotlight as Country of Focus at Cannes 2025. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and India will co-host film festivals and collaborate on youth-focused training initiatives. Streaming giants reaffirmed their commitments as well. Netflix, Amazon and ZEE Studios all announced new investments in Indian content, with a focus on emerging creators and regional narratives.
Infrastructure to Match the Ambition: India’s Film Facilitation Office unveiled an upgraded single-window clearance system for international productions, aimed at cutting red tape and improving turnaround times. The expansion of cinema halls, post-production infrastructure, and training institutes in non-metro cities was also high on the agenda. Educational reform featured prominently, with new funding and curriculum updates for institutions like FTII and SRFTI to meet global production standards.
Representation Front and Centre: The summit took a conscious step towards widening the lens of Indian cinema. Sessions featured voices from the Northeast, tribal regions, and folk traditions, alongside panels highlighting the work of female producers, directors and animators. “The narrative is shifting,” said one panel moderator. “Diversity isn’t a trend it’s where the most compelling stories are coming from.”
Embracing the New Without Losing the Old: Panels on Web3, artificial intelligence and immersive content leaned into practical applications rather than headline-chasing hype. “These technologies must serve the story, not distract from it,” said a VR content producer from Bengaluru. Participants stressed the need for balance blending India’s rich narrative traditions with new platforms, tools and monetisation models. (EN Team)