India to Host WAVES Summit in Goa

By Pickle August 14, 2024

The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit in Goa from November 20th-24th to Bolster India’s Position as a Global Hub for Creativity and Talent

India is set to organize the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Goa from November 20th to 24th, a landmark event that promises to transform the media and entertainment (M&E) landscape. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwani Vaishnaw, announced this at a curtain raiser event in New Delhi today, alongside Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Pramod Sawant, and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan.

“The media and entertainment world is undergoing a structural change with immense technology infusion,” said Shri Vaishnaw. “Our focus is on creating employment and augmenting the talent pipeline through both structural and procedural efforts, fostering an ecosystem that encourages high-quality content and recognizes India as a prime destination for content creation.”

Structural Changes and Government Commitment

The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the M&E ecosystem amid these changes. He highlighted that the WAVES Summit would form the input, while the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), also held in Goa, would represent the output. “This convergence will establish Goa as a major hub for creativity and talent, solidifying its position as a beacon for innovation and artistic expression,” he added.

Launch of WAVES 2024 Website and Brochure

The event also saw the launch of the WAVES 2024 website (https://wavesindia.org/) and the unveiling of the summit’s brochure. Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Pramod Sawant, noted that while IFFI has long been a beacon of cinematic excellence, WAVES will introduce a new dimension of industry collaboration by focusing on the emerging M&E sector. “Together, these events will create unparalleled opportunities,” he said, inviting the M&E industry to Goa with a spirit of innovation and collaboration.

Vision for the Future

Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan emphasized that WAVES 2024 aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of bringing global M&E leaders to India. “The Summit will create a platform to encourage the skilled manpower of the country,” he said.

Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju outlined the summit’s objectives: “Our aim is to bolster India’s soft power as the country grows economically. The Summit will set new benchmarks in creativity, innovation, and influence.” He highlighted key areas of focus, including content production and innovation, animation, VFX, gaming, and music, and intellectual property (IP) creation.

Premier Forum for Innovation and Collaboration

WAVES aims to be a premier forum for dialogue, trade collaboration, and innovation within the evolving M&E industry landscape. The Summit will convene industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to explore opportunities, tackle challenges, attract trade to India, and shape the sector’s future.

With a vision to position India as an unparalleled global powerhouse in the dynamic M&E landscape, WAVES seeks to set new standards of creativity, innovation, and influence worldwide. The mission is to empower global M&E leaders with exclusive investment opportunities through the premiere platform of WAVES.