Global dimension for Indian cinema

The country will sign film co-production treaty with foreign nations.

In order to give global dimension to its cinema, India would sign co-production treaty with foreign countries, including the UK, in the near future, Culture and Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said in Panaji on Thursday.

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"In order to give global dimension to Indian cinema, we have already signed co-production treaty with Italy. The treaty with the UK is going to be signed on December 5 and negotiations are at an advanced stage with Germany, China and Canada to sign such treaty," he said.

Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day long seminar, 'India-The Big Picture', organised in connection with the International Film Festival of India, beginning in Panaji on Thursday evening, the Union Minister said the potential of the Indian entertainment industry in the global arena is vast.

"India's economic growth is at a rate of 7 per cent while growth in the entertainment sector is to the tune of 18 per cent," he said at the seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries.

India can do much more in entertainment sector, he said.

"The technological advancement has helped us in the last one year and the government had launched free-to-air DTH of Doordarshan, which is the only such platform in the world," he said.

According to Reddy, it is not just Bollywood films but regional films also have their appeal in foreign countries and among non-resident Indians. "Hyderabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have played an important role in popularising regional films," he said.