Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, announced an ambitious target of achieving 10,000 Geographical Indication (GI) tags by 2030 during the GI Samagam held in New Delhi.
Goyal stated that the goal would be accomplished through a whole-of-government approach, with a dedicated committee to oversee its implementation. To date, 605 GI tags have been issued by the department.
The Minister emphasized the government’s efforts to enhance India’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ecosystem. Over the past decade, the number of authorized GI tag users has surged from 365 to 29,000, while the number of patents granted has increased from 6,000 to 100,000.
Goyal outlined the government’s initiatives to strengthen the IPR ecosystem, including the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Fund and the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. He also praised the efforts of states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in promoting GI-tagged products. Additionally, the Minister mentioned the department’s increased manpower and the digitization of processes to ensure timely actions.
He also emphasized the importance of enhancing promotion and marketing efforts for GI products. He suggested potential collaborations with private-sector players and government organizations such as railways and airports. He proposed listing GI-tagged products on platforms like the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), and e-commerce platforms, noting the growing interest in Indian handlooms, handicrafts, and specialty foods.
