Ø GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit showcases
India's GI-tagged Handloom and Handicraft Products, strengthening collaboration
across the GI ecosystem
Ø Digital Handloom Atlas – "One
Platform. Endless Markets" launched to enhance visibility and market access
for India's handloom products
·
The
GI & Beyond 2.0
Summit, organised by the Office
of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles,
in association with the Handloom
Export Promotion Council (HEPC), concluded successfully on 5 August 2026 at Dr.
Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
·
The
Summit showcased India's
GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products and brought together
policymakers, exporters, overseas buyers, industry leaders, GI stakeholders,
academia and weaver representatives to strengthen the GI ecosystem.
·
Pabitra
Margherita,
Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles, inaugurated the Summit
in the presence of senior officials including:
o
Smt.
Neelam Shami Rao,
Secretary (Textiles).
o
Dr.
M. Beena,
Development Commissioner (Handlooms).
o
Smt.
Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner
(Handicrafts).
o
Prof.
(Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit,
Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM).
o
Other
senior government officials, exporters, overseas buyers, academia and weaver
organisations.
·
In
his inaugural address, Pabitra Margherita
emphasized that:
o
Geographical
Indications (GIs) are symbols of India's cultural heritage, craftsmanship and
identity.
o
Technology
and innovation should be leveraged to expand markets while preserving authenticity.
o
GI
products strengthen India's soft
power and support sustainable livelihoods for artisans and
weavers.
·
The
Minister presented new
GI Certificates for:
o
Ladakh
Nambu Textile
o
Ladakh
Pashmina Textile
o
Himachal
Gudma
o
Himachal
Lingchay
o
Jharkhand
Bamboo Craft
o
Jharkhand
Tussar Silk Saree &
Fabrics
o
Munda
Jewellery of Jharkhand
o
Bareilly
Terracotta
·
Secretary
(Textiles) Neelam Shami Rao
highlighted government initiatives to strengthen the handloom sector through:
o
Policy
support.
o
Digital
initiatives.
o
Market
development.
o
Institutional
collaboration.
o
She
noted that the Digital
Handloom Atlas will improve visibility of GI-tagged products
and connect weavers with domestic and international markets.
·
Dr.
M. Beena,
Development Commissioner (Handlooms), highlighted efforts to support
traditional weaving communities through:
o
Cluster
development.
o
Design
support.
o
Raw
material availability.
o
Improved
market access.
o
She
noted that GI recognition creates long-term value and new economic
opportunities for weavers.
·
A
major highlight was the launch of the Digital
Handloom Atlas under the theme "One Platform. Endless Markets",
providing a comprehensive digital platform to showcase India's handloom
products, including GI-tagged products.
·
During
the inaugural session:
o
GI
Certificates were presented to Registered
Proprietors and newly
Authorised Users.
o
The
Diamond Jubilee Logo
of the Handloom Export
Promotion Council (HEPC) was unveiled, marking 60 years of promoting
India's handloom exports.
·
The
Summit featured:
o
An
exhibition of more than 100
GI-registered handloom and handicraft products from across
India.
o
Live
demonstrations by artisans and weavers.
o
Thematic
displays highlighting India's diverse weaving traditions.
·
Experts
from IIT Madras
presented the potential use of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) to strengthen the GI ecosystem.
·
Three
technical sessions focused on:
o
GI
Registration and Intellectual Property Rights.
o
Promotion
of GI products in the domestic market.
o
Leveraging
GI handloom products in international markets.
·
The
Summit reaffirmed the Ministry
of Textiles' commitment to protecting and promoting India's
GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products through stronger institutional
collaboration, innovation, digital initiatives and enhanced domestic and global
market access.
[ABS News Service/06.08.2026]
The GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit, organised by the Office of
the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India,
in association with the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), concluded successfully
on 5 August, 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre,
New Delhi. The Summit showcased India's rich GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products
and brought together policymakers, overseas buyers, exporters, industry leaders,
GI stakeholders, academia and weaver representatives to strengthen collaboration
across the GI ecosystem and promote wider market opportunities for India's traditional
products.
The Summit was inaugurated by Pabitra
Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs &
Textiles, in the presence of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles), Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner
(Handlooms), Smt. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Akhilesh Kumar,
DDG (Textiles), Prof. (Dr.) Unnat
P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM), RoC, GI & SICLDR and Kartikay
Dhanda, Secretary Textiles Committee. Senior Government
officials, representatives of industry, exporters, overseas buyers, GI stakeholders,
academia and weaver organisations also participated in the Summit.
In his inaugural address, Pabitra
Margherita emphasised that Geographical Indications are
not merely legal protections but symbols of India's rich cultural heritage, craftsmanship
and identity. He highlighted the importance of leveraging technology and innovation
to expand market opportunities for GI-tagged handloom products while preserving
the authenticity and traditions that make them unique. He also underlined the growing
role of GI products in strengthening India's soft power and supporting sustainable
livelihoods for artisan and weaver communities.
During the Summit, New GI Certificates for Ladakh Nambu Textile, Ladakh Pashmina Textile, Himachal Gudma,
Himachal Lingchay, Jharkhand Bamboo Craft, Jharkhand Tussar Silk Saree & Fabrics, Munda
Jewellery of Jharkhand, and Bareilly Terracotta were presented by Pabitra Margherita, Hon'ble Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles,
to the respective GI proprietors, recognising their efforts in preserving and promoting
India's unique traditional
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Neelam
Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles)
highlighted the Government's continued efforts to strengthen the handloom ecosystem
through policy support, digital initiatives, market development and institutional
collaboration. She observed that the Digital Handloom Atlas would provide greater
visibility to India's GI-tagged handloom products and facilitate stronger linkages
between weavers and domestic and international markets.
Welcoming the participants, Dr.
M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms) highlighted
the contribution of India's traditional weaving communities and the Ministry's continued
efforts to strengthen the sector through cluster development, design support, raw
material availability and market access. She emphasised that GI recognition provides
enduring value to India's unique weaving traditions while creating new opportunities
for weavers.
A major highlight of the Summit was the launch of the Digital
Handloom Atlas – "One Platform. Endless Markets", a comprehensive digital
platform designed to showcase India's handloom products, including GI-tagged products,
and connect artisans with wider markets. During the inaugural session, GI Certificates
were presented to Registered Proprietors and newly Authorised Users. The Diamond
Jubilee Logo of the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) was also unveiled,
marking sixty years of the Council's contribution towards promoting India's handloom
exports.
The Summit featured a display of more than 100 GI-registered
handloom and handicraft products from across the country, along with thematic displays
showcasing India's diverse weaving traditions and live demonstrations by artisans
and weavers. The exhibition provided participants with an opportunity to experience
the craftsmanship, diversity and cultural richness of India's GI products.
A special presentation by experts from IIT Madras highlighted
the potential application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strengthening the GI
ecosystem. Three technical sessions held during the Summit deliberated on GI Registration
& Intellectual Property Rights, promotion of GI products in the domestic market,
and leveraging GI handloom products in international markets, with participation
from experts representing Government, industry, academia, intellectual property
institutions, retail brands and international organisations.
The GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit reaffirmed the Ministry of
Textiles' commitment to promoting and protecting India's GI-tagged handloom and
handicraft products through stronger institutional collaboration, innovation and
market development. By bringing together policymakers, industry, exporters, GI stakeholders,
academia and overseas buyers on a common platform, the Summit is expected to further
strengthen the visibility, market access and global recognition of India's unique
handloom and handicraft heritage.