HKI Media, MESC to Offer Training Across Media Sector

HKI Media has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) to skill & upskill around 1 Lakh creative professionals on Paid, government sponsored and industry led training models across India over the next 2 years. 

The signing took place alongside the official launch of the Gig Media app, an AI-powered platform designed to streamline hiring, collaboration, and discovery in India’s ₹5 lakh crore media and entertainment industry. The Signing ceremony witnessed the presence of actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, Oscar-winning sound designer Dr. Resul Pookutty, MESC CEO Dr. Mohit Soni, and HKI Media CEO Abhimanyu Sihag.

As part of the agreement, HKI Media’s newly launched Gig Media app will serve as the official Mobilisation and Content Creation Partner for 10 Centres of Excellence under MESC. The partnership will also power national-level industry workshops, enable data integration across MESC’s training ecosystem, and drive skilling initiatives under flagship government and CSR schemes, including PMKVY, PM VIKAS, PM DAKSH, RPL, and others.

“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.”

Built with support from MESC and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship under the Skill India initiative, Gig Media uses intelligent matchmaking to connect professionals with jobs based on skill, role, budget, location, and user ratings. The platform is already seeing the impact, with students from IICS—MESC’s flagship institute destined for 100% placement through 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 drew participation from leading figures in the creative world, including Padma Vibhushan Usha Uthup, Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, action director Sham Kaushal, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, Oscar-winning sound designer Dr. Resul Pookutty, MESC CEO Dr. Mohit Soni, and actor and Cinta general secretary Dr. (Hon.) Amit Behl. The enthusiastic response from both industry veterans and new talent underscores the growing demand for structured, tech-led solutions in India’s creative economy.