In a bold declaration, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the state’s ambitious plan to position itself as a global leader in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) technologies. Speaking at the fifth edition of Bengaluru GAFX, Siddaramaiah outlined the state’s vision, emphasizing the goal to create a robust talent pool and generate 30,000 high-quality jobs in the AVGC sector by 2028.
The Karnataka government, recognizing the surge in global and national demand for AVGC-XR industries, released the draft biotechnology and AVGC-XR policy in November 2023. Siddaramaiah detailed the six strategic pillars of the policy, covering skill development, sustainable infrastructure, support for startups and MSMEs, global market access, incentives, and a focus on ‘Mobile First’ AVGC products.
“Our aim is to ensure that exports constitute at least 80 percent of the sector’s total revenue and foster sustainability and inclusivity within the AVGC industry,” stated Siddaramaiah.
Over the next three days, Bengaluru GAFX will bring together animation, VFX, and gaming studios, industry veterans, students, academia, and technology partners. Karnataka has become a key hub for animation services, AVDC services, and game developers, with 300 studios employing over 16,000 professionals, accounting for a 20 percent share of the Indian entertainment and AVDC industry.
DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister, highlighted the transformative potential of technology in education through user-friendly animations and the integration of artificial intelligence. He expressed confidence in the industry’s ability to enhance government services and emphasized Bengaluru’s leading role in the gaming space.
Ongoing discussions between the government and industry stakeholders aim to align the newly drafted policy with industry needs. Shivakumar assured that the policies are designed to encourage innovation, attract investment, and reflect the cultural richness of Karnataka.
Nivruti Rai, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Invest India, acknowledged India’s success in the media and entertainment industry, projecting a revenue of $35 billion by 2025. Rai highlighted the remarkable growth of the animation and visual effects (VFX) sector, reaching $3 billion from $1.5 billion in just two years. She expressed the ambition to increase India’s contribution to the global audio-video services market from 2 percent to 20 percent.
Biren Ghose, ABAI President, and Country Head, Technicolor India, emphasized the continuous growth of the AVGC industry. Ghose praised events like GAFX for bringing together studios, producers, and investors, describing GAFX as a platform where innovation meets opportunity, shaping the future of India’s creative narrative on a global scale.