Exploring a New Creative Frontier: Insights from India on Kazakhstan's Hidden Potential
Living on the Edge of a Dream:
MUMBAI - Let's face it, attending the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) was more than just a job for me, it was a damn rollercoaster ride. I wasn't only a reporter covering an event, I was a spectator mesmerized by a whirlwind of emotions that swept me off my feet.
Mumbai wasn't just a city, it was a pulse, a throbbing heart beating with vibrancy, chaos, and creativity. This city, with its kaleidoscope of colors, didn't merely welcome you, it swallowed you whole.
In the span of those unforgettable few days, I strolled through the humming halls of the summit, only to find myself standing mere meters away from the giants of Indian cinema. Legends like Shah Rukh Khan and Mithun Chakraborty, who once danced their way onto Kazakh television screens, etching their names into my heart long before I could even dream of being a journalist.
But it wasn't just the star-studded event that left me dumbfounded. It was a line spoken by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi that resonated within me, like the beating of that very pulse of Mumbai. "The screen size may be shrinking, but the scope is becoming infinite."
An apt observation, and a profound truth. It reminded me that in this age of smartphones and streaming, the power to influence and move people has never been more accessible, or more potent.
Modi called upon the global creators to "dream big and tell your story." He urged investors to "invest not just in platforms, but in people," emphasizing that creativity is not a luxury, it's a force, and India is ready to harness that force. With its rich cultural heritage and brave storytelling, the country aims to grow its creative market to a staggering $50 billion by 2029.
As I stood amidst the cacophony of India's creative crescendo, I couldn’t help but ponder: What about Kazakhstan?
We too, have tales that span vast landscapes, tales that echo across the steppe. From poets and painters, visionaries and musicians, we have the raw material for cinema that could captivate the world...if only we dare to share them.
India's example inspired me. The world doesn't need us to mimic others, it needs us to be ourselves - proud, loud, and purposeful.
I watched in awe as performers traced the history and mythology of Indian civilization on a makeshift stage. A nation that doesn't shy away from its complexity, but celebrates it instead. A nation that finds its strength in that celebration. That's the sort of vision we need to cultivate at home, a vision that values creativity as a force, not just a frivolous pursuit.
We need to build platforms for storytelling and support our filmmakers, designers, musicians, animators, and digital creators. Our young people deserve to believe that their imagination has value, not just as a hobby, but as a profession and a contribution to our nation's progress.
India's message was clear: When you tell your story, the world listens. And when you invest in creativity, you invest in peace, identity, and shared humanity.
So, India, thank you. Thank you for this reminder, this wave. A wave that I'm determined to bring back with me to Kazakhstan. Let's ride it together.
Cracking the Kazakhstan Code
- Embrace Cultural Roots: Digitize traditional music, crafts, and oral traditions, leveraging them for global markets, akin to India's "Creative Economy Mission."
- Innovation Hubs: Expand initiatives like the AIFC to provide dedicated funding for creative start-ups in digital advertising, gaming, and film.
- Investment Strategies: Introduce sustainable financial tools & metrics to assess non-financial impacts, and attract private funds by highlighting growth sectors.
- Education & Skill Development: Scale online creative economy courses and integrate creative entrepreneurship into university curricula.
- Policy & Diplomacy: Establish a clear national strategy, with a dedicated ministry or task force to coordinate cross-sector efforts. Utilize platforms like WAVES summits to export Kazakhstani narratives globally.
- Specialized Growth: Invest in production studios, distribution networks, and tax incentives for local developers in cinema, music, and gaming.
By implementing these strategies, Kazakhstan can position itself as a creative beacon for Central Asia.
- In trying to catch the wave of creativity that India has ignited, we may reconsider our approach to traditional music, crafts, and oral traditions, leveraging them for global markets, much like India's 'Creative Economy Mission'.
- To nurture and encourage budding creativity, initiatives like the AIFC could be expanded to provide dedicated funding for start-ups in digital advertising, gaming, and film, fostering an environment for innovation in our creative industries.
- To attract potential investors who value creativity and growth, introducing sustainable financial tools and metrics to assess non-financial impacts could demonstrate the viability of these sectors, making them more appealing to private funds.
- Scaling online creative economy courses and integrating creative entrepreneurship into university curricula can empower our young people, demonstrating that their creative skills are valuable assets in the workforce and contributors to our nation's progress.
- Establishing a clear national strategy, with a dedicated ministry or task force to coordinate cross-sector efforts, can ensure that Kazakhstan becomes a creative beacon for Central Asia, utilizing WAVES summits to export our own narratives and stories to the world, just as India has done.
