Union Cabinet Minister and Deputy Leader, Rajya Sabha, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said here that “the torrent of films can hit hard on terrorism”. While addressing “5th Global Film Tourism Conclave”, organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mumbai today, Shri Naqvi said that Indian films and foreign films have played a significant role in giving meaningful message against the menace of terrorism, violence, radicalism. Today there is a need of such films which can not only entertain but also give effective message to the society. Shri Naqvi said that the successful and glorious journey of Indian cinema industry, which started with the common people, should not be limited to class people.

Shri Naqvi said that the Indian film industry is a confluence of the world's finest talent and art. We have to take this glorious history of the Indian cinema to top place in the entire world. Shri Naqvi said that India is the only country in the world where every season, atmosphere, culture, rituals, summer, winter, rain, snow, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, seas, forests, beautiful villages, elegant cities are there. These unique characteristics make India an ideal place for any filmmaker.

Shri Naqvi said that the Modi government has taken several steps to make India a favourite filming destination which include providing several financial incentives and other facilities to promote production of foreign movies in India. Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Naqvi said that, today the film industries of many countries are playing an important role in the economy of their countries by contributing trillion of dollars. According to reports, the worldwide box office collection of Hollywood movies is about 47 lakh crore rupees; the worldwide earnings of British film industry are about 3 lakh 31 thousand crore rupees; the earnings of Chinese film industry from all over the world are about 2 lakh 53 thousand crore rupees; the total worldwide box office earning of Indian film industry is about 48 thousand crore rupees.

Shri Naqvi said that creative films become pride of the history while casual films perish from the history. India ranks 5th in film production in the world with about 2 thousand films are produced every year in more than 20 languages. At the same time, India is at 8th place in the production of best films. We have to improve this further.

Shri Naqvi said that cutting across the classes, we have to make the Indian film industry, the first choice of masses by talking Indian films “local to global”. Only then, the identity and pride of the Indian film industry will get the worldwide recognition. Shri Naqvi said that India has the best directors, producers, writers, actors, technicians, locations, audiences and national-international markets. All these facilities and resources have the power to make India "captain of the world cinema”.

Union Ministry of Tourism Secretary Shri Arvind Singh; Central Film Certification Board CEO Shri Ravinder Bhakar; Animal Welfare Board of India Secretary Dr. Sujit Kumar Dutta; PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Entertainment, Media Committee Chairman Shri Mukesh Gupta; PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tourism Committee Co-Chairman Shri Rajesh Sehgal; PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Dr. Yogesh Shrivastava; Bollywood veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, renowned film directors and producers Anees Bazmee, Rahul Rawail and Anil Sharma, renowned actor Manoj Joshi, diplomats from various countries; other prominent personalities from national and international film industries; film writers; cinematographers; representatives of film councils; tourism boards; film and advertising agencies from various countries were also present on the occasion.