Partnership aims to strengthen commercialisation, market access and digital enablement of India’s GI products.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the commercialisation and market access of India’s Geographical Indication (GI) products. Signed on August 5, 2026, at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, the agreement seeks to enhance the economic potential of GI products by supporting artisans, weavers and producer collectives through coordinated enterprise development and intellectual property protection.
The MoU was signed by Md. Salik Parwaiz, Director, Ministry of MSME, and Karan Thapar, Director, Intellectual Property Rights Division, DPIIT, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. Under the partnership, the two ministries will work together to improve quality standardisation, expand market access and facilitate the transition of GI products into commercially viable and export-ready enterprises. The collaboration also aims to strengthen the One District One Product (ODOP) ecosystem by integrating GI products into enterprise development initiatives.
As part of the collaboration, the Ministry of MSME and DPIIT will jointly 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. The two organisations will also co-sponsor GI pavilions at national and international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and exhibitions to enhance domestic and global market access for Indian GI products.
According to the Government, the partnership is expected to strengthen India’s GI ecosystem through capacity building, digital enablement and improved market linkages while supporting the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local by creating greater economic opportunities for traditional artisans and producers.
