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 accelerate the commercialisation, quality standardisation and market penetration of India’s Geographical Indication (GI) products.
The MoU was signed on August 5 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, by Md. Salik Parwaiz, Director, Ministry of MSME, and Karan Thapar, Director, IPR Division, DPIIT, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
The partnership seeks to strengthen the economic potential of India’s GI-registered products while improving the livelihoods of indigenous artisans, weavers and producers. It will also support the development of the One District One Product (ODOP) ecosystem by helping regional products transition from local markets to commercially viable, scalable and export-ready enterprises.
DPIIT is the nodal department responsible for the registration and legal protection of Geographical Indications in India under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The Ministry of MSME, meanwhile, is responsible for promoting the growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises, traditional industries and artisans across the country.
The two organisations have recognised that while GI registration provides legal protection to products associated with specific regions, unlocking their full economic value requires stronger coordination across enterprise development, digital commerce, quality standards and market access.
Focus on Digital and Market Access
Under the framework, the Ministry of MSME and DPIIT will work towards integrating ODOP into their respective programme designs and interventions, creating greater opportunities for GI producers and collectives.
A key component of the collaboration will be facilitating 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 initiative is expected to provide GI producers with wider digital visibility and access to institutional and consumer markets, while helping them build stronger and more sustainable sales channels.
The two organisations will also co-sponsor dedicated GI Pavilions at national and international trade expos, buyer-seller meets and exhibitions. These platforms will be used to promote GI products among domestic buyers as well as international markets.
Strengthening India’s GI Ecosystem
The collaboration brings together DPIIT’s expertise in intellectual property protection with the MSME Ministry’s focus on enterprise development, capacity building and market expansion.
Officials said the initiative would contribute to strengthening the broader GI ecosystem through capacity building, digital enablement and expanded market access. By connecting traditional products and regional specialties with premium domestic and international markets, the partnership aims to create greater economic opportunities for artisans, weavers and local producers.
The initiative is also aligned with broader national priorities of promoting local manufacturing, strengthening indigenous enterprises and building globally competitive Indian products.
With stronger institutional support, digital market access and international promotion, the MSME-DPIIT partnership is expected to help transform India’s rich portfolio of GI products into stronger commercial brands while preserving the traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and regional identity behind them.
