MIB will play the facilitatorâ€™s role for the M&E sector: Venkaiah Naidu

Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that digital and mobile tools have been leading to paradigm shifts in the M&E sector. The growth of varied platforms such as 4G, broadband, mobile technologies, digital media has enabled the M&E sector to move towards “Convergence across platforms and content”.

While delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the 5th Edition of the CII Big Picture Summit at New Delhi yesterday, Naidu mentioned about the opportunities in the skill sector for the M&E industry and said that the Government was fully aware of the acute shortage of professionals across different segments. He further said that he would like the industry to give its recommendations on the steps to be taken to match demand and supply as well as the recommendations emerging from the discussions at the summit for the different sessions focusing on skill assessment and needs.

On the issue of growth prospects for the industry, the Minister said that as part of the national policy, the Government would work with the industry to develop infrastructure to get the right talent at the appropriate sectors. The M&E sector in India had always been a very liberal media market and a number of initiatives had been taken, including opening up and liberalising FDI in the broadcast sector.

For the initiatives in the film sector, Naidu said that there was a huge opportunity to make India lead in the world as film shooting location and digital media hub for the world. “Our films, actors, content, technology are expanding footprint to new and emerging global markets, and the aim of the Government is to make this transition smooth by creating an enabling regulatory environment. The co-production agreements with other countries have ensured the projection and branding of India’s soft power,” he added.

On the issue of the theme of the Conference, ‘Embracing Disruption to Stay Competitive’, the Minister noted that this process had substantially altered the business models across the world. The Indian M&E industry needed to outline a firm roadmap to ensure the convergence of networks, devices and content, the core elements of the digital entertainment process. Naidu referred to the Government’s Digital India and Smart City initiative that were going to have a major impact on increasing the penetration of Internet to Tier-II and Tier-III cities. He also referred to the potential of smartphones in facilitating a critical role for consumers’ professional and personal lives. The Government’s initiatives and private sector participation was necessary to ensure the optimal use of the potential of the digital ecosystem.