Team Siliconindia

• HKI Media and MESC signed an MoU to skill and upskill 1 lakh creative professionals across India over the next two years through government, paid, and industry-led training programs.
• The event also marked the launch of the AI-powered Gig Media app, aimed at streamlining hiring, collaboration, and discovery in India’s ₹5 lakh crore media and entertainment sector.
• Backed by the Skill India initiative, Gig Media will serve as the official partner for 10 MESC Centres of Excellence, formalizing talent matchmaking and creating real, paid opportunities for creatives nationwide.

HKI Media has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) for skilling & upskilling approximately 1 Lakh creative professionals on Paid, government sponsored and industry led training models in India within the next 2 years.

The signing ceremony was accompanied with the formal launch of the Gig Media app, an AI-enabled platform that aims to make hiring, collaboration, and discovery easier in India's Rs 5 lakh crore media and entertainment sector. The Signing ceremony saw actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, Oscar-winning sound designer Dr. Resul Pookutty, CEO of MESC Dr. Mohit Soni, and HKI Media CEO Abhimanyu Sihag attending the event.

Under the agreement, HKI Media's recently launched Gig Media app will be the official Mobilisation and Content Creation Partner for 10 Centres of Excellence across MESC. The association will also fuel national-level industry workshops, facilitate integration of data across MESC's training ecosystem, and drive skilling under flagship government and CSR schemes such as PMKVY, PM VIKAS, PM DAKSH, RPL, and more.

“India’s creative economy needs infrastructure, not just in terms of education, but also in how talent and opportunities meet. Gig Media solves that gap at scale”, said Abhimanyu Sihag, CEO of HKI Media. “With this partnership, we’re not just talking about upskilling, we’re creating real, paid work opportunities across the country.”

Developed with funding by MESC and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship under Skill India, Gig Media applies smart matchmaking to match professionals with opportunities by skill, position, budget, geography, and user ratings. The platform is already experiencing the difference, with IICS students MESC's flagship school headed for 100% placement using the app.

Dr. Mohit Soni, CEO of MESC, said, “The industry has been waiting for a platform like this. We’ve relied too long on fragmented, unverified methods of hiring and collaboration. Gig Media is what formalization looks like in a digital-first economy, which is sure to flourish the industry with good talent”.

The event saw involvement from top personalities in the creative industry, such as Padma Vibhushan Usha Uthup, Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, director Ramesh Sippy, action director Sham Kaushal, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, actor-director Arbaaz Khan, Oscar-winning sound engineer Dr. Resul Pookutty, MESC CEO Dr. Mohit Soni, and actor and Cinta general secretary Dr. (Hon.) Amit Behl. The positive reception from both veterans of the industry and fresh talent attests to the increased need for organized, technology-driven solutions within India's creative economy.