IT to leverage growth of animation industry in State: IT/BT Secretary

In the days to come, the State is planning to boost the growth of animation industry having lined up a slew of projects. The soon to be opened exclusive training centre in Bangalore, and the seven art digital centers planned in several cities including Mysore, are among them.

Disclosing this at a joint media briefing Secretary to the State IT, BT and Science and Technology  departments Srivatsa Krishna and President of Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI) Biren Ghose on Friday said the training center will focus on honing the skills and talent of traders, in sync with the demand of the growing animation industry. The department was planning to take out road shows in the foreign countries to attract more investors. 

Revenue

Krishna said, after introducing an exclusive policy -- Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) (a government order to this effect is expected soon), the government has decided to make best use of IT industry to leverage the growth of the former. “The State is the second largest IT exporter generating a revenue of Rs 1.6 lakh crore accounting for 35 pc to 40 pc of the national revenue. 

Employment wise too, the list of beneficiaries is overwhelming with nine lakh direct employees and 27 lakh indirect employees,” said Krishna.

Ghose said, the idea behind hosting the first ever fest in the State in the city of palaces was to shift the focus from Bangalore, thereby giving equal impetus to tier-II cities. 

“When a small city called Ammecy in France can turn into a hub of animation with its trademark International film festival every year, why shouldn’t a city like Mysore make a beginning in that direction?” he said.

Media Park

The State IT, BT department is toying with the idea of devising new age technology to propel the pace of media in the State and also the nation. 

An exclusive Media Park or City is being planned to extend technical help to both print and electronic media, said secretary to the department Srivatsa Krishna. “When all the media houses rely on computers from filing to printing (in case of print media) and airing (electronic media), why can’t the State chip in with its indigenous technology?” said Krishna.