The Federation for Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising a seminar in Kolkata on Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects. To be held at the Hotel Taj Bengal on 11 August 2006, the seminar is jointly presented by FICCI VEC & FICCI Animation and Gaming forum.

Speaking to Animation Xpress.com, FICCI Senior Assistant Director Sumeet Gupta shared,"We will be organising a series of seminars in Animation & Gaming all over India. We begin with Kolkata which has a rich pool of creative talent. This will be the first time that a conference of such a nature would be held in Kolkata"

The seminar shall have participation from the industry as well as from the Government. Amongst senior officials who shall be speaking include D K Chakroborty, Principal Secretary, Dept of Information and Culture, Govt of West Bengal and Debesh Das, Hon'ble Minister for Information Technology, Government of West Bengal.

The topics to be discussed in the sessions include

-Developing Human Capital in Animation & Gaming: Fostering Public Private Partnership

- Future of Indian Visual Effects Industry

-Case Study Presentation on VFX work done in India

-Indian Animation & Gaming Content: What lies ahead?

"As per industry estimates, the animation industry in India is expected to grow at a CAGR (cumulative annual growth rate) of 35% and gaming at 78%. Besides the increase in the backend service work, The first Indian studios are moving up the value chain; hence industry is witnessing more co-production deals and even development of Intellectual Properties. Due to increased quantum of work and emergence of new technologies, Animation Gaming and Visual Effects have become the next sunrise sector after IT. It is expected to be the biggest employment generator and export revenue earner" remarked Gupta.

"The seminar will explore various possibilities of developing human capital in this promising area. It would also draw a roadmap of the future of the Indian industry & indigenously produced content" he concluded.