India Partners with WinZO to Boost Global Gaming Industry Presence

India Partners with WinZO: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has announced a two-year partnership with the social gaming platform WinZO to help strengthen India's position in the global gaming market. According to a senior official from the commerce ministry, this collaboration aims to develop India’s interactive entertainment sector and capture a larger share of the $300 billion global gaming industry.

Supporting Startups and Innovators

The partnership's primary goal is to support over 2,000 startups, innovators, and students working in the gaming and interactive entertainment space. Through initiatives like mentorship programs, workshops, accelerator programs, and hackathons, the collaboration aims to nurture talent and help these innovators grow their businesses. This effort is set to enhance India’s gaming ecosystem and contribute to its expansion globally.

Establishment of Center of Excellence (CoE)

One of the key elements of this collaboration is the creation of a Center of Excellence (CoE). The CoE will focus on developing a skilled workforce for the gaming industry and encouraging innovation. Sanjeev, Joint Secretary of DPIIT, explained that the CoE would address two main challenges: the talent gap and the monetization of Indian gaming assets. The initiative will contribute to creating “Made in India” intellectual property that can be exported globally, and it will help attract foreign investment in India’s gaming sector.

Indian Gaming Market Growth

A report by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum predicts that India’s interactive entertainment market is expected to reach $60 billion by 2034, which could create over 2 million jobs in the country. Despite challenges such as the new 28% goods and services tax (GST) on online gaming, the gaming sector in India has seen impressive growth. A report by Lumikai, a gaming-focused venture capital firm, revealed that India’s gaming market grew by 23% in 2023-24, reaching $3.8 billion in revenue.

Commitment to Innovation and Global Leadership

Sanjeev further emphasized the importance of this partnership, calling it a significant step in making India a global leader in interactive technology. “This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering startups, fostering innovation, and creating products that meet global standards in the gaming industry,” he said.

Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director of Startup India at DPIIT, added that the collaboration is developing not just startups but also a pipeline of talented individuals who will help India become a major player in the global gaming industry.

Building a Global Ecosystem

Saumya Singh Rathore, the co-founder of WinZO, highlighted that the partnership is a key step toward building a world-class ecosystem for India’s gaming sector. She stated that it will position Indian products and intellectual property globally, helping establish India as a significant force in the global gaming industry.

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This partnership with WinZO marks an important milestone in India's efforts to become a global leader in gaming and interactive technologies. Through this initiative, India is working to develop the talent, innovation, and infrastructure needed to compete on the world stage in the rapidly growing gaming market.