DPIIT, MSME Ministry sign MoU to propel India's GI products into global markets
New Delhi, August 11
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 5 at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi to accelerate the commercialisation, quality standardisation, and market penetration of India's Geographical Indication products.
The MoU was signed by Md. Salik Parwaiz, Director, Ministry of MSME, and Karan Thapar, Director, IPR Division, DPIIT, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, according to the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
The collaborative framework aims to enhance the livelihoods of indigenous artisans, weavers, and producers, while simultaneously strengthening the country's One District One Product ecosystem.
DPIIT serves as the nodal department for the registration and legal protection of Geographical Indications in India under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Meanwhile, the Ministry of MSME acts as the nodal ministry steering the growth, financial health, and overall development of micro, small, and medium enterprises, traditional industries, and artisans nationwide.
Both entities recognized that while legal registration protects regional identity, maximizing economic value requires coordinated effort. The agreement seeks to transition these localized crafts into scalable, commercially viable, and export-ready enterprises.
Under the joint initiatives outlined in the framework, both organisations will work towards "integrating ODOP in their programme design and interventions."
The partnership will also "collaboratively facilitate the onboarding of GI collectives and authorised users onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under a dedicated "Bharat GI" banner."
Furthermore, the agencies plan to "co-sponsor dedicated GI Pavilions at national and international trade expos, buyer-seller meets and exhibitions for domestic and global marketing of GI products."
The agreement aligns DPIIT's mandate for intellectual property protection with the MSME Ministry's focus on enterprise development. Officials noted that the initiative will strengthen the broader ecosystem through capacity building, digital enablement, and expanded market reach.
The framework supports the integration of regional products into premium domestic and international markets, furthering national economic initiatives aimed at self-reliance and promoting local manufacturing.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The concept is good but implementation is key. I hope this isn't just another MoU that remains on paper. We need proper training for artisans on quality standards, packaging, and digital literacy. Let's see how this translates on the ground.
Impressive initiative. India's handicrafts and traditional products deserve this kind of push. The "Bharat GI" branding on ONDC could be a game-changer! As someone who buys Indian handicrafts often, I'd love to see better availability and authenticity verification.
Finally, they're taking GI seriously beyond just legal protection. Our poor artisans in villages are often exploited by middlemen. Direct exposure to international markets via GeM and trade expos will help them get fairer prices for their traditional crafts. Jai Hind! 🙏
A well-planned strategy! Having worked with artisan cooperatives, I can say that while the intent is solid, the real challenge will be in standardizing quality without losing the handcrafted uniqueness. The capacity-building aspect will be crucial. Good to see ODOP being integrated into this.
This is exactly what Atmanirbhar Bharat needs. Instead of importing foreign luxury goods, why not promote our own GI-tagged products like Pashmina shawls, Chanderi fabrics, and Kashmiri saffron? The global demand is there, we just need the right export channels. Good move, government!
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