Add MobiGyaan as a preferred source on GoogleTencent has announced a multi-year commitment backed by an initial allocation of over ₹10 crore (₹100 million) to support the growth of India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) ecosystem. The initiative is focused on strengthening talent development, curriculum creation, mentorship programs, and industry training to accelerate India’s digital creative economy. The investment aligns with India’s broader national vision of training and employing nearly 2 million skilled professionals in the AVGC-XR sector by 2030.
Tencent Strengthens India’s “Orange Economy”
Tencent says the initiative is aimed at helping India become a global hub for gaming, interactive entertainment, digital content creation, and immersive technologies. The company plans to work closely with educational institutions, developers, creators, and industry organizations to build a stronger talent pipeline for the future.
The funding will support:
- Curriculum development for AVGC-XR education
- Industry-focused training programs
- Mentorship initiatives for creators and developers
- Talent incubation and workforce development
- Grassroots gaming and esports engagement
Tencent signs MoUs with SEPC and GDAI
As part of the initiative, Tencent has signed three-year Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key Indian industry bodies, including the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and the Game Developers Association of India (GDAI).
Partnership with SEPC
Tencent’s collaboration with SEPC aims to:
- Strengthen India’s AVGC export ecosystem
- Improve industry-wide capacity building
- Support Indian studios entering global value chains
- Expand international collaboration opportunities
The partnership aligns with efforts to position India as a major global AVGC services and content export hub.
Partnership with GDAI
Through its partnership with GDAI, Tencent plans to focus heavily on gaming talent development and student engagement.
Planned initiatives include:
- National Game Jam programs targeting 10,000+ students annually
- Train-the-Trainer programs for colleges and institutions
- Structured participation in the Indian Game Developers Conference (IGDC)
- Grassroots developer ecosystem support
Industry event brings together policymakers and gaming leaders
The announcement was made during the inaugural “Tencent | Building India’s Orange Economy Together” event, which brought together policymakers, gaming leaders, esports organizations, and AVGC institutions to discuss the future of India’s digital entertainment industry.
The event included representatives from:
- Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC)
- Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)
- Esports Federation of India (ESFI)
- NODWIN Gaming
- Game Developers Association of India (GDAI)
Two major panel discussions focused on:
Charting Pathways to the Global Gaming Industry
The discussion explored how public-private partnerships can help create sustainable career opportunities for Indian youth in gaming, animation, and digital entertainment.
Taking India to the Global Stage
The second panel focused on workforce development, esports governance, grassroots communities, and how India can strengthen its global presence in gaming and interactive media.
Tencent’s investment comes at a time when India’s gaming industry is witnessing rapid expansion. According to Niko Partners research referenced during the event:
- India is currently the fastest-growing gaming market across Asia and the MENA region
- Player spending is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2028
- India’s gamer base could grow to nearly 724 million users by 2029
Tencent says the country’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure and growing creator ecosystem make India a strategically important market for long-term AVGC-XR growth.
Danny Marti, Head of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Tencent, said, “Our goal goes beyond investing in programmes. We want to work with local partners to build practical pathways for talent, creators, and studios. By combining India’s creative strengths with Tencent’s expertise, we hope to support a more connected and globally competitive AVGC ecosystem.
The AVGC sector is an important driver of India’s services exports and creative competitiveness. Our future potential collaborations with Tencent will aim to help strengthen industry capabilities and offer more opportunities for Indian companies and professionals in the international market.”
Shruti Verma, CEO, GDAI, said, “India is at a defining moment in its gaming journey, with the opportunity to emerge as a global hub for game development and interactive entertainment. Through this partnership with Tencent, we aim to strengthen the talent pipeline through grassroots skilling, mentorship, and deeper developer engagement. Building globally competitive gaming talent from India will be key to shaping the next phase of the country’s digital and creative economy.”
Tencent Plans Broader Ecosystem Support
Beyond the signed partnerships, Tencent also plans to:
- Explore collaborations with educational institutions
- Enable internships and knowledge exchange programs
- Support local creator and esports communities
- Introduce global gaming ecosystems such as Honor of Kings into India
The company says the initiative is designed to help connect Indian creative talent with global opportunities while supporting the next phase of India’s digital economy growth.
