Ministry of MSME and DPIIT sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

• 12 Aug 2026
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In a significant move toward realizing the economic potential of India’s Geographical Indication (GI) products, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 5 August 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. 

Shri Karan Thapar, Director, IPR Division, DPIIT and Md. Salik Parwaiz, Director, Ministry of MSME, signed the MoU in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. 

Role of DPIIT and Ministry of MSME 

Under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, DPIIT is the nodal department for Geographical Indication registration and legal protection. 

The Ministry of MSME, on the other hand, is the nodal ministry responsible for propelling the growth, financial health and overall development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, traditional industries and artisans in the country. 

Focus on Commercialising GI Products 

Both sides agree that while legal registration of GIs protect regional identity, to maximize their economic value, a collective push is still required so as to transition these products from localized crafts to scalable, commercially viable and export-ready enterprises. 

Accordingly, the MoU between the DPIIT and MSME Ministry establishes a collaborative framework to boost the commercialization, quality standardisation and market penetration of Indian GI products. 

This move will improve the livelihoods of indigenous artisans, weavers and producers. At the same time, it will strengthen the One District One Product (ODOP) ecosystem in the country.

Digital Platforms and Global Market Access 

Under the joint initiative, both organisations will work together to include ODOP in their programmes, help GI collectives and authorised users join ONDC and GeM under the “Bharat GI” banner. They shall jointly support GI Pavilions at national and international trade fairs, exhibitions and buyer-seller meets to promote GI products in India and abroad.

Strengthening India’s GI Ecosystem 

The MoU between both the parties is a major steps towards alignment of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s (DPIIT) mandate for intellectual property protection with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ (MSME) mandate for enterprise development. 

It is anticipated that this collaboration is expected to strengthen India’s Geographical Indications (GI) ecosystem through capacity building, digital enablement and enhanced market access for artisans, weavers and producer collectives. 

It will also help in integration of GI products with premium domestic and international markets and contribute to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local. 

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)