Tribal Products With Export Potential To Receive Full Support: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, Nov 13 (KNN) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday announced that all tribal products with export potential will receive full support from the Department of Commerce through multiple channels, including e-commerce platforms, international warehouses, and wholesale and retail trade networks. 

He made the announcement while addressing the Tribal Business Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in collaboration with the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Culture.

Goyal informed that a new scheme is being formulated to strengthen export promotion initiatives and ensure that tribal products gain enhanced visibility and market access in both domestic and global markets. 

He noted that there is vast untapped potential for tribal crafts and goods in international markets, and the Government is taking concrete steps to harness this opportunity.

He reiterated that the upliftment of tribal and remote regions remains a top priority, underscoring the Government’s commitment to equitable and sustainable growth.

Concluding his address, Goyal encouraged stakeholders to transform ‘Van Dhan to Vyapar Dhan’, aiming to bring tribal and indigenous products to international markets under the theme of ‘Local Goes Global’. 

He emphasised the need for collective efforts to empower tribal entrepreneurs and highlight India’s rich craftsmanship on the global stage.

The conclave, supported by FICCI as Industry Partner and PRAYOGI Foundation as Knowledge Partner, drew participation from over 250 tribal enterprises, including 150 exhibitors and more than 100 tribal start-ups at the ‘Roots to Rise’ pitching platform. 

The programme featured six high-impact panel discussions and four masterclasses, engaging over 50 experts from government, academia, and industry on topics such as investment and partnerships, sustainability, branding, and market innovation.

At the conclave, several significant initiatives and outcomes were announced. 

The Gramya Yuva Arth Niti (GYAN) Lab, developed by the Ashank Desai School of Public Policy at IIT Bombay in collaboration with the PRAYOGI Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, was launched as a public policy innovation hub to design and test scalable models for tribal and rural enterprises. 

The Lab will pilot initiatives such as the Tribal Entrepreneurship Index and micro-equity incubation models to translate field learning into actionable policy.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with Startup India and DPIIT, introduced the Tribal Affairs Grand Challenge, inviting startups and enterprises to develop high-impact solutions for tribal communities while providing mentorship, visibility, and funding opportunities.

The Roots to Rise pitching outcomes were also highlighted, with 115 shortlisted enterprises, including 43 DPIIT-registered ones. 

Ten incubators agreed to provide incubation support, and 57 enterprises attracted investment interest from over 50 venture capitalists and investors, with total commitments exceeding Rs 10 crore. 

Collectively, these enterprises have created around 1,500 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs, benefiting more than 20,000 tribal people across various sectors.

Engagement on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform also increased, with over 60 registrations and more than 50 trade inquiries for tribal business products.

Additionally, Geographical Indication (GI) certificates were distributed to tribal artisans for products including Kannadippaya (Kerala), Apatani Textile (Arunachal Pradesh), Marthandam Honey (Tamil Nadu), Lepcha Tungbuk (Sikkim), Bodo Aronai (Assam), Ambaji White Marble (Gujarat), and Bedu and Badri Cow Ghee (Uttarakhand). 

(KNN Bureau)