WAVES 2025: India’s creativity will be its greatest export in future, says Maharashtra CM Fadnavis; calls Mumbai as 'cultural hub'

“Mumbai is a city where the roads are paved not only with gold dust, but also with stardust", said Fadnavis.

At the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Mumbai, the country's entertainment hub, was the ideal location to to launch the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES). “Mumbai is a city where the roads are paved not only with gold dust, but also with stardust", said Fadnavis.

Addressing an event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Bollywood stars, he said, “As we gather on Maharashtra Day—a day that marks not only the formation of our beloved state, but also celebrates its spirit of boldness, inclusivity, and forward-thinking—it is only fitting that we launch the Visionary Waves Summit in Mumbai.

He said that WAVES is helping connect India’s deep cultural roots with its fast-growing digital future. The World Audiovisual Entertainment Summit shows that India is ready to become a global creative leader.

He added that this is not just an event, but a movement driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inspiring vision—one that has already boosted India’s position as an economic power and is now guiding a cultural revival.

Fadnavis said India’s greatest export in the future will be its creativity—through stories, music, innovation, and imagination.

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said, " there are two types of people in the audience today. The creators. The ones building the ecosystem for these creators. And then there is a third, invisible force—the will of the government, under the leadership of our prime minister to see this grand vision unfold."

“The entertainment economy is the new development engine for Maharashtra and India. Today, content travels faster than any commodity, and culture is the most significant export of any nation in the digital era. Maharashtra stands proudly at the forefront of this revolution", he further added.

The chief minister concluded his speech with a quote from Swami Vivekananda: “Times of change don’t wait.” He then added, “And I would like to extend that thought: Here in Mumbai, we don’t just ride the waves—we create them.”