Creators Are India's Digital Ambassadors, Should Take India's Story to the World: Piyush Goyal

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, addressed the RISE//DEL Conference 2025, a multidisciplinary conclave bringing together music, creative industries, and startups. He emphasized the growing contribution of India's digital and creative economy towards shaping the country's global narrative and appealed to creators, artists, and entrepreneurs to act as digital ambassadors to tell India's story to the world.

India's Digital Transformation: A Decade of Growth

Over the last ten years, India has undergone an extraordinary digital transformation, largely driven by initiatives such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India program. Launched in 2015, this initiative aimed to strengthen online infrastructure, improve internet accessibility, and promote a digitally empowered society.

Today, India is the world's largest consumer of data, with over 690 million internet users—and increasing numbers. The low price of data prices in India is a significant advantage, with fees lower than in the United States and Europe. This convenience has resulted in a digital content creation boom, where India is a hotbed of innovation in the creative and tech industries. (Source)

India's Growing Creative Economy

Goyal pointed out that India's creative economy is no longer limited to film, drama, and theater. Today it extends to new-gen sectors like:

• Gaming and Esports
• AI-based content creation
• Digital media and streaming platforms
• Metaverse and immersive experiences

This expansion has created millions of jobs, opening new doors for India's youth and entrepreneurs. The Indian video game industry, in particular, is expected to expand to $8.6 billion by 2027, turning India into a major player in the global gaming market. (Source)

The Boom in E-Commerce and Digital Payments

India's online retailing sector has record growth, posting $147.3 billion in 2024 and an expected CAGR of 18.7% through 2028. Growth factors for the same include:

• Personalized shopping experience by way of AI and 5G
• AR and VR capabilities in retail
• Usage of Blockchain to enable safe transactions

Digital payment is also thriving, with UPI (Unified Payments Interface) recording a 23.8% growth in 2024. This has made it easier for small businesses and individual creators to monetize their work. (Source)

Data Centers: The Backbone of Digital India

As India grows its digital presence, so does its requirement for data centers. Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore are leading the charge here, with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure investing heavily in Indian data infrastructure. Mumbai alone holds the largest market share with a total capacity of 289 MW and a 3.6 million sq ft data storage space. (Source)

Artificial Intelligence: India's Next Big Leap

India is rapidly becoming a global leader in AI, with the government launching the $1.25 billion "IndiaAI Mission" to support AI-driven innovation. New research suggests that AI can increase India's IT sector productivity by 45% in the next five years.

Some of the notable AI breakthroughs are:

• Generative AI tools for content creation
• Business process outsourcing (BPO) with AI-powered automation
• Healthcare and education solutions powered by AI

Industry experts estimate that India's AI services market may reach $17 billion by 2027. (Source)

Rising Indian Clout in Global Entertainment

India's live entertainment sector is witnessing a 35% growth, with international music performers like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, and Dua Lipa touring the nation. Mumbai has become a hotspot for global concerts, with thousands of audience members attending live shows.

The key drivers for this boom are:

• Rising disposable income among young Indians
• Affordable ticket prices compared to Western markets
• Expansion of music and entertainment venues

The Indian live entertainment industry will be worth $1.7 billion by 2026, placing it among the world's fastest-growing entertainment industries. (Source)

Apple's Big Manufacturing Expansion in India

India is rapidly becoming a significant manufacturing hub for Apple, with iPhone exports increasing by nearly 50% in 2024. Apple's vendors, including Foxconn and Tata Electronics, are increasing iPhone 16 Pro production in India to reduce China dependence.

Major benefits of Apple's Make in India policy:

• Employment generation and economic growth
• Indian consumers will have access to Apple products at a lower cost
• A stronger supply chain independent of China

Apple's shift in manufacturing is expected to help strengthen India's export economy further, making it a world tech leader. (Source)

Empowering Creators: India's Digital Future

Piyush Goyal reiterated the position of India's digital creators in projecting India's narrative to the world. With a thrusting digital economy, AI-driven innovation, and growing global footprint in entertainment and manufacturing, India is set to be a prime driver of the 21st-century digital revolution.

With the adoption of technology, narrative, and entrepreneurship, Indian creatives have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the world's story about India so that India's creative and digital industries drive global innovation.