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Tag: Abhay Sinha

  • SEPC joins forces with IAMAI to script India’s next big digital export success story

    SEPC joins forces with IAMAI to script India’s next big digital export success story

    MUMBAI: In India’s thriving bazaar of code and content, two powerhouses have shaken hands to push bytes across borders. The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi to jointly drive the country’s digital services exports into high gear.

    The partnership aims to remove policy potholes, expand international market access, and prepare the country’s emerging digital sectors for the global stage. The MoU sets the stage for institutional collaboration across several fronts—from building working groups with ministries to participating in overseas delegations and trade shows.

    Under the agreement, SEPC and IAMAI will:

    ●    Establish joint working groups with ministries and regulators to resolve policy and trade bottlenecks for digital exporters.

    ●    Coordinate India’s participation in global trade forums and business delegations, creating pathways for startups and digital ventures to enter international markets.

    ●    Organise capacity-building programmes to ensure India’s digital sectors are export-ready.

    ●    Promote high-potential verticals including AdTech, FinTech, HealthTech, SaaS, Digital Entertainment, Edutech, Agri Summit, and Cross-Border E-commerce.

    “India’s digital sector holds immense potential in the global services economy. Through this partnership with IAMAI, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for digital enterprises to grow their international footprint and benefit from structured policy and trade support”, said SEPC director general Abhay Sinha.

    IAMAI president Subho Ray added, “This MoU reinforces our commitment to building a robust ecosystem for digital services exports. By working closely with SEPC, we can jointly support Indian digital innovators in accessing global markets and driving the next phase of India’s export growth story”.

    While India has already cemented its name as a global IT outsourcing heavyweight, this pact shifts the spotlight to a new generation of digital players. From SaaS to streaming, from edtech to agri-tech, the initiative focuses on future-facing sectors that could define India’s next trillion-dollar export ambition.

    The MoU marks a decisive step in bridging industry with the government, injecting India’s digital export engine with both structure and scale. With policy in sync and the global market in sight, India’s digital disruptors may soon be trading in new time zones.

  • From Bhojpuri to global bigwig: Abhay Sinha’s star turn at FIAPF

    From Bhojpuri to global bigwig: Abhay Sinha’s star turn at FIAPF

    MUMBAI: Abhay Sinha, the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (Imppa) president, has sashayed his way into a starring role on the global stage. He’s been unanimously elected vice-president of FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations), the apex body of  of film producers from over 30 countries. The vote took place on 17 May, 2025, at the FIAPF Annual General Assembly in Cannes, France,

    This isn’t just a proud moment for Immpa, which has been in the game since 1937, but for the entire Indian film industry. Under Sinha’s leadership, Imppa has become a veritable dynamo, championing Indian producers and filmmakers both at home and abroad. He’s been working tirelessly to ensure Indian content creators get the recognition they deserve.

    One of Sinha’s greatest hits has been leading Imppa’s  presence at the Cannes Film Festival for two years running. In 2025, over 40 Indian films and a legion of delegates graced the festival, putting India’s diverse cinema firmly in the global spotlight. He even graced the Bharat Pavilion with his wisdom, speaking on a panel about the Changing Paradigm of Film Screening: Theatres to OTT, Digital Platforms and Beyond. He’s truly got his finger on the pulse of where film viewing is headed.

    But Sinha isn’t just about the glitz and glamour of international festivals. He’s been a driving force behind shaping better film policies across India. Think improved subsidy systems in Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. He’s also pushed for easier film certification and greater industry representation in national film bodies.

    Ever the industry advocate, Sinha has tackled critical concerns like vrtual print fees (VPF), exhibition hurdles, and taxation reforms, aiming to lighten the financial load on producers and distributors. And he’s not one to shy away from a fight, having actively voiced concerns about the proposed 100 per cent tariff by the US on foreign entertainment content. He argues such tariffs are a real cliff hanger for cultural exchange and the global reach of Indian cinema, calling for fair trade policies to protect the creative and economic interests of Indian filmmakers.

    Beyond his leadership roles, Sinha is also the founder of Yashi Films, a production powerhouse with over 150 feature films in various languages and more than 5,000 TV episodes under its belt. He’s also the mastermind behind the International Bhojpuri Film Awards (IBFA), the only global award platform for Bhojpuri cinema, which has travelled to multiple countries with the backing of Indian tourism bodies. These events have truly given regional Indian cinema and Bhojpuri artists a global stage.

    Sinha’s election as FIAPF vice-president is a landmark moment, giving Indian producers a much stronger voice on the world stage and opening up a treasure trove of new opportunities for collaboration and growth. It seems the reel world just got a whole lot more exciting for India.

  • Indian pavilion at Mipcom 24 in Cannes makes a positive impact

    Indian pavilion at Mipcom 24 in Cannes makes a positive impact

    CANNES: It’s sunny and very warm in Cannes on the French Riviera. But inside the famed Palais des Festivals the Indian pavilion put up by the Service Exports Promotion Council (SEPC) along with the ministry of information &  broadcasting (MIB) and the ministry of commerce & industry  is a hustle-bustle of activity.

    It’s almost 9:30 am in the morning and the clock is counting down the minutes as Prasar Bharti CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, Telangana special chief secretary of the industries & commerce (I&C) and information technology (IT) Jayesh Ranjan, counsel general of India in the Indian consulate in Marsielles Rupjyoti Brahma Karjee,  SEPC chairman Karan Rathore and director general Abhay Sinha are all geared up to inaugurate the pavilion which is the watering hole for many Indians who have come together to attend the  largest and most successful content trading and co-production market globally.

    Once the signal is given the four of them cut the ribbon and cheers go around celebrating India’s largest ever presence and pavilion at Mipcom. Close to 235 Indian delegates from 70 or more companies and independent creative professionals have signed up with RX – the organiser of Mipcom – to boost India’s content trade with the world.

    “We are delighted to build the platform – with the support of the two ministries –  for India’s independent animation and VFX studios, film and TV producers and distribution companies, and media and entertainment service providers at this very vibrant market,” says Sinha. “The MIB’s message is very clear: create in India and make it the content hub of the world. Our role to help achieve that goal and, If possible, crunch the time frame required to get there .”

    It is Dwivedi’s first visit to Mipcom  and he’s quite gung-ho about the opportunities it provides for the pubcaster to get connected with other public broadcasters, expose DD India, the English news channel, which provides an India view on global and Indian developments to the world. Finally, he is also looking at acquiring all genres of content from domestic Indian content owners and international producers and distributors in preparation for DD’s OTT service which is slated to start streaming next month.

    The Indian pavilion is also home to Telangana and Karnataka states. The former is promoting its image tower for the AVGC sector, inviting international companies to come and invest in the state, and to it’s annual gathering of the AVGC confab India Joy.  The latter is promoting Karnataka’s AVGC Centre of Excellence and its annual event Bangalore GAFX.

    55 other companies registered for Mipcom are also using it as a meeting place with their international clients with who they have either distribution, coproduction, or acquisition relationship.

    While the Indian presence is marked by veterans and seasoned animation studio professionals, the youngest exhibitor on the pavilion is 19 year old animation student in Paris Joyce Ahuja who has come armed with all her art work and a small teaser for her animation feature film.  

    “Mipcom is an awesome place and I am glad to have made up  my mind to attend and get feedback on my project so I can make it even more appealing globally,” she says, her eyes gleaming with excitement, despite her aching legs. She has the confidence that her project will attract the right fund providers and partners to help it get off the ground. 

  • Piyush Goyal emphasizes Yahi Samay Hai Sahi Samay Hai at SEPC’s export conclave

    Piyush Goyal emphasizes Yahi Samay Hai Sahi Samay Hai at SEPC’s export conclave

    Mumbai: The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), in collaboration with the Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), successfully hosted a one-day conclave on “Global Services Export conclave on Engineering and Environmental Services: sustainable energy, transportation, and infrastructure” on 15 September 2023, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi.

    The event commenced with welcome remarks by SEPC director-general Abhay Sinha.

    The special address was delivered by the esteemed chief guest, Piyush Goyal, ministry of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food & public distribution, textiles.

    Ministry of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food & public distribution and textiles Piyush Goyal addressed the conclave by congratulating all engineers on the Engineer’s Day celebrated on the 15 of September. He said, “Such celebrations on this day as a conference truly reflect why and how we can best leverage the fact that we have a day dedicated and celebrated as Engineer’s Day.

    We must celebrate our success and at the same time find intelligent and smarter ways to integrate into the global economy.

    This levelling up I believe is needed in the engineering sector as well. As engineers, I urge you to now reflect on how to go to the next step. The time has come for our engineering sector to have levels of engineers like generalists, specialists and a skilled workforce that supports them. Once we have this complete eco-system in place, we will be able to achieve the 100 billion dollars target on engineering services, design, construction and R&D by 2030.

    Identify countries where there are restrictive practices that don’t give Indian talent the opportunity to bid or to participate and the government can sort that to ensure international growth.

    There comes a time in the development journey of every country when the country defines itself afresh and pushes toward new resolutions. Today that time has come. We need to now aim to go international and the FTAs are opening doors to the services sector as well. Our negotiations of the FTAs also reflect that we are getting the best deals for our stakeholders, and it should be a win-win for both countries.

    The services sector has seen 55 per cent growth in just two years and that is a remarkable approach.

    We need to think smart, go global and seamlessly merge into international systems. We need to collaborate with stakeholders worldwide and grab opportunities for the sector.”

    The conclave witnessed some very distinguished speakers. The conclave brought together key industry players, government officials, subject matter experts, and dignitaries. The objective was to identify growth opportunities, address challenges, and strategise methods to leverage India’s capabilities in the engineering, construction, and environment services sectors. The primary goal was to create an action plan that would facilitate the growth of Indian companies in the export of services.

    The significance of this conclave lies in its efforts to enhance engineering export services to diverse countries. To achieve this, it was imperative to inform stakeholders about available opportunities, understand their challenges, and determine the support required from government ministries to expand globally.

    The conclave featured several curated sessions, including consulting opportunities for Indian companies, emerging business opportunities in consultancy services funded by multilateral funding agencies, India’s differentiated offering for global markets: sustainable energy, transportation and infrastructure, experiences, issues, and challenges in doing business in the global environment (sustainable transportation) and emerging global opportunities in sustainability & energy transition with specific reference to India’s role in shaping the journey.

    Addressing the conclave in his vote of thanks, SEPC vice chairman Karan Rathore shared, “This conclave has provided an unparalleled opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange, with attendees gaining insights from prominent speakers, thought leaders, and experts during insightful panel discussions and interactive sessions. The Global Services Export Conclave exemplifies India’s commitment to promoting sustainable energy, transportation, and infrastructure services. As we work towards a more connected and greener world, together, we are defining a roadmap for growth that will benefit businesses and contribute to India’s global prominence.”

    SEPC director general Abhay Sinha while welcoming the conclave in his address thanked the Ministry for their valuable and continuous support towards the services sector and SEPC. He added, “India’s services sector is the powerhouse of our economy, and it plays a pivotal role in our global positioning. It will not only enhance our presence on the global stage but also set a roadmap for sustainable growth, benefitting both our nation and the global community. SEPC as an organization has played a catalytic role in widening the perspective towards the services sector in India. India is moving ahead in all services streams and in the engineering sector we are the largest producers of engineers. So many projects which have been undertaken by Indian companies globally have helped build India’s position in the world. it reflects the commendable efforts by the engineering community. We thank them. I take this opportunity to welcome distinguished panels and speakers who will be sharing insights on how to work towards grabbing more opportunities in the engineering sector globally and how to address the challenges. By bringing together industry leaders and government officials, this conclave is a significant step towards harnessing these opportunities and charting the course for growth.”