India today hosted the first Global Media Dialogue (GMD) as part of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit in Mumbai. The dialogue was organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with support from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The summit saw the participation of delegates from 77 countries that culminated in the adoption of the WAVES Declaration by the member nations.
The Global Media Dialogue, held in Mumbai as part of the ongoing WAVES 2025, centred on the role of governments in promoting global peace and harmony within an increasingly interconnected media landscape. The dialogue emphasised the powerful role of films in bridging cultural divides, with participating nations recognising the significant contribution of Indian cinema in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Several member countries also highlighted the importance of enhancing responsible journalism. They expressed confidence that collaborative initiatives under the WAVES platform could address this challenge effectively.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan.
Meanwhile, the WAVES Bazaar, another key component of WAVES 2025, has already recorded confirmed business transactions worth ₹254 crore across the film, music, animation, radio, and VFX sectors in just two days. Several major business agreements have been signed between Indian and international film industry stakeholders, underscoring the event’s role as a hub for global media collaboration.
