New Delhi: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the commercialisation, quality standardisation and market access of India’s Geographical Indication GI products.
The agreement was signed on August 5, 2026, at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
The collaboration aims to unlock the economic potential of India’s rich heritage of GI products by supporting their transition from localised crafts and traditional products into scalable, commercially viable and export-ready enterprises.
The MoU was signed by Md. Salik Parwaiz, Director, Ministry of MSME, and Shri Karan Thapar, Director, IPR Division, DPIIT, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
MSME Ministry and DPIIT to Strengthen GI Products Ecosystem
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 the nodal ministry responsible for steering the growth, financial health and overall development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, traditional industries and artisans across the country.
The two organisations have recognised that while legal registration of GIs helps protect regional identity, greater economic value can be generated through coordinated efforts to commercialise and scale GI products.
The MoU establishes a collaborative framework focused on accelerating the commercialisation, quality standardisation and market penetration of Indian GI products.
The initiative is also aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of indigenous artisans, weavers and producers while strengthening the One District One Product (ODOP) ecosystem across the country.
‘Bharat GI’ Banner for GI Products on ONDC and GeM
As part of the joint initiatives, the Ministry of MSME and DPIIT will work towards integrating ODOP into their programme designs and interventions.
The organisations 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.
The initiative is expected to provide GI products with greater access to digital commerce and government procurement platforms, supporting their reach among domestic buyers and wider markets.
In addition, the two organisations will co-sponsor dedicated GI Pavilions at national and international trade expos, buyer-seller meets and exhibitions. These platforms will be used for the domestic and global marketing of GI products.
Focus on Commercialisation and Global Market Access
The MoU represents a step towards aligning DPIIT’s mandate for intellectual property protection with the Ministry of MSME’s mandate for enterprise development.
The partnership is aimed at strengthening India’s Geographical Indications ecosystem through capacity building, digital enablement and enhanced market access for artisans, weavers and producer collectives.
Through the collaboration, GI products will receive support for integration with premium domestic and international markets.
The initiative is also expected to create stronger commercial opportunities for traditional producers and enterprises associated with geographically identified products.
The focus on digital platforms, trade exhibitions, buyer-seller meets and market access is intended to help GI products move beyond regional markets and become more commercially viable and export-ready.
Supporting Artisans, Weavers and Producer Collectives
The collaboration between the Ministry of MSME and DPIIT is also aimed at supporting indigenous artisans, weavers and producer collectives involved in the production of GI products.
By combining intellectual property protection with enterprise development initiatives, the two organisations will work towards creating a stronger ecosystem for traditional industries and regional products.
The MoU will facilitate capacity building and digital enablement while improving market access for GI collectives and authorised users.
The initiatives are also expected to strengthen the ODOP ecosystem by connecting regional products with wider domestic and global markets.
The partnership further supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local by helping Indian GI products gain stronger visibility and access to premium markets in India and abroad.
Overall, the collaboration establishes a framework for the Ministry of MSME and DPIIT to work jointly on the commercialisation, standardisation and market penetration of India’s GI products, while supporting artisans, weavers, producers and traditional enterprises across the country.
