Ministry of MSME, DPIIT Sign MoU to Expand Market Access for GI Products

New Delhi, Aug 11 (KNN) 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 support the commercialisation, quality standardisation and market access of India's Geographical Indication (GI) products.

The MoU was signed on August 5, 2026, 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.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will work towards integrating the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative into relevant programmes and interventions related to GI products.

The collaboration also provides for facilitating the onboarding of GI collectives and authorised users on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under a dedicated “Bharat GI” banner.

The ministries will also collaborate on GI Pavilions at national and international trade expos, buyer-seller meets and exhibitions to promote GI products in domestic and overseas markets.

DPIIT is 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. 

The Ministry of MSME is responsible for policies and programmes relating to the development of MSMEs and traditional industries, including support for artisans and weavers.

The MoU provides for cooperation between the two organisations on capacity building, digital enablement and market access for GI collectives, artisans, weavers and producers.

(KNN Bureau)