New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has set a target of reaching 10,000 Geographical Indication (GI) tags by 2030. Speaking at the GI Samagam in New Delhi, organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the India Today Group, he stated that this target would be achieved through a whole-of-government approach. A committee will be formed to oversee its implementation. The number of GI tags issued by the department to date stands at 605.

Goyal highlighted the government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the Intellectual Property (IPR) ecosystem. He noted a significant increase in the number of authorised users for GI tags, rising from 365 to 29,000, and the number of patents granted, which has grown from 6,000 to 100,000 over the past decade. Emphasising the vision of ‘Vikas bhi aur Virasat bhi,’ Goyal acknowledged the Prime Minister’s efforts, including promoting GI products through his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme.

He also spoke about initiatives to enhance the IPR ecosystem, such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Fund and the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Goyal praised the efforts of state governments like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in promoting GI products. He further noted that the government has increased the department's manpower and streamlined the process by making it fully online and time-bound.

Goyal stressed the importance of better branding for GI products and the need for collaboration with organisations such as FSSAI and BIS to ensure higher quality standards. He highlighted that such measures would also help tackle counterfeit products.

While discussing promotion and marketing strategies, he mentioned potential collaborations with the private sector and government organisations, including railways and airports. He suggested listing GI-tagged products on platforms like GeM, ONDC, and e-commerce portals, noting the growing interest of e-commerce platforms in Indian handloom, handicrafts, and speciality food products. Goyal also proposed that Indian embassies abroad could showcase GI products, akin to ODOP initiatives, unlocking the sector's export potential.

BI Bureau