Karnataka aims to be global animation & gaming leader with 30,000 jobs by 2028: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru GAFX

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on January 29 outlined the state's vision to position itself as a global innovation leader in  animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) technologies.

"We aim to create a robust talent pool by transforming the state into a center of excellence for AVGC-related skills. Our goal is to generate 30,000 new high-quality jobs in the sector by 2028, ensure that exports constitute at least 80 per cent of the sector’s total revenue, and foster sustainability and inclusivity within the AVGC industry," he said at the fifth edition of Bengaluru GAFX.

In November 2023, the Karnataka government released the draft biotechnology and animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality policy.

Also read: Karnataka targets 30,000 jobs through new AVGC-XR policy by 2028

"Recognising the global and national surge in these industries, the policy aims to leverage Karnataka’s existing strengths in IT and BPM to establish the state as a global leader in AVGC-XR," Siddaramaiah said.

He further detailed the six strategic pillars of the policy, covering skill development for a future-ready workforce, creation of sustainable infrastructure, empowering startups and MSMEs, provision for global market access and business development, incentives, concessions, and financial support, and a focus on 'Mobile First' AVGC products.

Bengaluru GAFX

"Over the next three days, the event will witness a convergence of animation, VFX, and game studios, production houses, industry veterans, professional students, academia, and technology partners. Karnataka has grown to be a key hub for animation services, AVDC services, and game developers, accounting for a 20 percent share of the Indian entertainment and AVDC industry. A total of 300 animation, VFX, and gaming studios operate in Karnataka, employing over 16,000 professionals," Karnataka Electronics, IT and BT secretary Ekroop Caur said.

DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister, highlighted the transformative potential of technology in education through user-friendly animations and the integration of artificial intelligence in the industry. He expressed confidence in the industry's ability to enhance government services and emphasised Bengaluru's leading role in the gaming space.

Shivakumar also said that ongoing discussions with the Union government to align the newly drafted policy with industry needs. "Our policies are designed to encourage innovation, attract investment, and reflect the cultural richness of Karnataka," he said.

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. She highlighted the remarkable growth of the animation and visual effects sector, reaching $3 billion from $1.5 billion in just two years. Rai 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, stressed on the continuous growth of the AVGC industry, praising events like GAFX for bringing together studios, producers, and investors. He described GAFX as a platform where innovation meets opportunity, shaping the future of India's creative narrative on a global scale.