Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the four-day World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai on 1 May, as announced by Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant.
The summit, aimed at bringing together global stakeholders from the media and entertainment industry, will take place at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) from 1 to 4 May.
Maharashtra, and particularly Mumbai, continues to strengthen its position as a leading hub for tourism and entertainment. Minister Samant emphasised Mumbai’s importance in India’s cultural and industrial landscape, adding that the central government’s decision to host the summit in the city aligns with efforts to showcase India’s tourist destinations on a global platform.
The event, hosted by the Maharashtra government, will witness participation from ministerial-level officials representing 33 countries and chief executive officers (CEOs) from 120 international companies. Eminent artists, directors, and producers from the Hindi, South Indian, and Marathi film industries are also expected to attend.
Dignitaries such as Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar are slated to attend. Jaishankar will chair a Global Media Dialogue session with visiting ministers, media leaders, and policymakers.
WAVES will feature a diverse range of events, including seminars, roundtable discussions, and cultural performances. Key sessions will explore the evolving future of the audio-visual industry in India and globally. Among the highlights is a panel discussion titled ‘Legends and Legacies: The Stories That Shaped India’s Soul’, focusing on storytelling’s enduring impact on India’s cultural identity.
