Top Indian ministers and politicians, including Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, yesterday briefed New Delhi-based foreign envoys on the inaugural edition of WAVES, which aims to become the WEF-Davos of the global media and entertainment world.

Addressing the attendees and participants, which comprised senior representatives of various high commissions, embassies and foreign missions based in India, Vaishnaw (in the picture) made a strong pitch for global participation at the inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, which is set to take place in Mumbai from May 1-4.

“The intersection of creativity, media and technology is transforming the media landscape of the world and reaching a new level of convergence,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the creator community from all walks of life can create content of high value to be showcased at WAVES that will be graced by some of the biggest names of technology, media and entertainment.

In his address, Jaishankar (in the picture) highlighted the internationality of the event by saying WAVES will serve as a “pivotal platform for fostering discussions, collaboration and innovation for the media and entertainment industry”.

“This event will unite industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to explore opportunities, address challenges and shape the future of the sector,” the Foreign Minister elaborated, adding, “Economic and political rebalancing is moving towards cultural balancing. We are not truly global if we are not truly local. WAVES 2025 captures the spirit of this endeavour”

He exhorted the approximate 100 ambassadors and high commissioners present at the New Delhi briefing to familiarise their respective governments regarding the opportunities of global collaborations under WAVES 2025, an official statement put out by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting stated.

Other Indian politicians and government officials present at the event included Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (Mumbai will be playing host to WAVES participants), Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik and MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju (all featuring in the picture).

Dr. L. Murugan, while addressing the gathering, highlighted that WAVES opens the door to joint ventures, co-productions and business expansion, enabling global media companies to engage with India’s diverse creative sector.

“The Government of India remains steadfast in creating a conducive environment for the M&E industry, supporting ease of doing business, content localization and infrastructure development,” Murugan added.

Jaju, who has been leading the team of government officials responsible for conceptualising and executing the logistics of WAVES, along with various industry organisations, explained that the event was designed with multiple tracks to create a “meaningful impact”.

The Global Media Dialogue will feature ministers and policymakers, culminating in the WAVES Declaration as a guiding policy document. The Thought Leaders Track will host knowledge-sharing sessions with industry experts, apart from WAVES Bazaar facilitating business networking and the WaveXcelerator supporting media startups, Jaju elaborated.

A key highlight of yesterday’s event was a MoU exchange between the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Government of Maharashtra, strengthening collaboration in media, entertainment and digital outreach.