YouTube is placing India at the core of its global strategy, positioning it as a launchpad for innovation and growth. Gautam Anand, YouTube’s Vice President for the Asia Pacific region, highlighted India’s pivotal role during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, citing multiple firsts for the platform in the country.
“India is not just one of our biggest markets by scale, but it also represents one of the highest growth potentials globally,” Anand said. Key initiatives like YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app were both first launched in India before expanding globally.
In addition to content creation, YouTube is intensifying its efforts in shopping and commerce within the country. Initially limited to the US, South Korea, and India, YouTube’s commerce model has now extended to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian markets. India remains a core market in this expansion.
The company is also strengthening its creator-brand collaboration ecosystem. A recent partnership with Flipkart enables Indian creators to earn affiliate revenue, reflecting a broader push to help creators monetize through brand deals and affiliate marketing.
Looking ahead, YouTube plans to roll out new initiatives aimed at boosting its premium subscriber base in India, signaling a strong commitment to the market’s evolving digital landscape.