Ø Piyush Goyal Urges Toy Industry to Adopt
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Enhance Global Competitiveness
Ø Piyush Goyal Calls on Toy Industry to
Tap FTA Markets, Promote Sustainable Manufacturing
Ø Piyush Goyal Assures Export Promotion
Mission Support for Overseas Market Expansion
Ø Piyush Goyal Highlights 239% Growth in
Toy Exports, Calls for Tenfold Growth in the Years Ahead
Ø Piyush Goyal Says Make in India and National
Toy Action Plan Have Strengthened Domestic Toy Manufacturing
·
Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the Government
will establish modern testing facilities across toy manufacturing clusters
through Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Test House and other laboratories.
·
He urged toy manufacturers to adopt advanced manufacturing
technologies, including CAD-CAM and CNC machining, to improve
product quality and global competitiveness.
·
The Minister encouraged:
o
MSMEs to scale up operations.
o
Industry to establish skill development centres and partner with Industrial Training Institutes
(ITIs).
o
Creation of Centres
of Excellence for testing, design, innovation and product development.
·
He assured support under the Export Promotion Mission
for:
o
Overseas exhibitions.
o
Brand building.
o
Warehousing facilities abroad.
o
Expansion into international markets.
·
Manufacturers were encouraged to leverage India's Free
Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the India–UK FTA (effective 15
July 2026), and explore opportunities in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and
other FTA markets.
·
The Minister emphasized:
o
Sustainable manufacturing.
o
Domestic production of motors, electronics, dies and moulds.
o
Building globally recognized Indian toy brands.
·
On Quality Control Orders (QCOs), he reaffirmed
the Government's commitment to:
o
Protect domestic manufacturers.
o
Prevent unfair imports and dumping through the Directorate
General of Trade Remedies.
·
The Minister highlighted the sector's strong performance:
o
Toy exports increased by 239% over the past
four years.
o
Toy imports declined by 32% during the same
period.
·
He attributed the sector's growth to:
o
Make in India.
o
The National Toy Action Plan (2020).
o
Establishment of over 50 toy clusters and around
21,000 MSME toy manufacturing units.
·
The Minister called on the industry to achieve tenfold
export growth by focusing on quality, innovation, branding and global market
expansion.
Key Takeaway
The Government aims to transform India into a global toy
manufacturing hub by strengthening testing infrastructure, promoting advanced manufacturing
technologies, leveraging FTAs, supporting MSME exporters, and encouraging sustainable,
high-quality production to drive the next phase of export-led growth.
[ABS News Service/04.07.2026]
Addressing the 17th Toy Biz International
B2B Exhibition 2026, organised by the Toy Association of India (TAI) in New Delhi,
today the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, highlighted
the remarkable progress made by the Indian toy industry in recent years through
sustained policy support and industry-led innovation.
The Minister assured the industry that
the Government would establish modern testing facilities across toy manufacturing
clusters in the country through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Test
House and other government and semi-government laboratories. He urged industry stakeholders
to identify and communicate the testing equipment required to ensure that Indian
toys meet the highest quality standards for both domestic and international consumers.
The Minister encouraged MSMEs to continuously
scale up their operations, stating that every micro enterprise should aspire to
become small, every small enterprise should aspire to become medium and every medium
enterprise should aspire to become large. He pointed out that export turnover is
not included while determining MSME status, allowing enterprises to expand substantially
while continuing to benefit from the MSME framework.
The Minister called upon industry leaders
to establish skill development centres and partner with Industrial Training Institutes
(ITIs) to train workers in advanced manufacturing practices and good manufacturing
practices. He proposed a public-private partnership model under which industry and
government could jointly establish Centres of Excellence equipped with facilities
for testing, product development, innovation and design.
He suggested that such Centres of Excellence
could include dedicated design centres, facilities for testing new products and
spaces for showcasing newly launched high-quality products. He also encouraged manufacturers
to undertake brand-building initiatives and assured support through Export Promotion
Mission.
Emphasising the importance of quality,
Mr. Goyal said that maintaining high standards would enable India to significantly
expand its presence in the global toy market, which is estimated at around US$120
billion.
Highlighting the need for technological
advancement, Mr. Goyal urged manufacturers to adopt Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided
Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies and CNC machining to improve product quality,
precision and efficiency. The Minister noted that integrating CAD-CAM with CNC-based
manufacturing would enable the industry to develop high-quality products with greater
precision and efficiency. He also emphasised the importance of using modern machinery
and continuously improving manufacturing processes, stating that technological upgradation
would help Indian toy manufacturers strengthen their competitiveness and establish
a distinct position in global markets.
The Minister also underscored the importance
of quality stitching, superior thread quality, machine-stitched products and attention
to manufacturing details, noting that such factors often determine success in global
markets. Appreciating exporters supplying products to the Middle East, he encouraged
the industry to take advantage of opportunities in developed markets opened through
India's recent Free Trade Agreements.
Referring to the nine Free Trade Agreements
concluded under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Mr. Goyal noted
that these agreements provide access to developed and high-income markets where
high-quality products can command greater value.
Mr. Goyal urged manufacturers to send
business delegations across the world, particularly to the 38 countries covered
under India's nine FTAs. He encouraged the industry to showcase India's strengths
globally and engage directly with local industries, brands, supermarkets and e-commerce
platforms in overseas markets.
Emphasising sustainability, the Minister
urged manufacturers to focus on sustainable products and sustainable manufacturing
practices. He stressed the importance of developing domestic capabilities in the
production of motors, electronics, dies and moulds used in toy manufacturing, stating
that a self-reliant ecosystem and large-scale production would improve competitiveness
and reduce costs.
Highlighting market opportunities,
Mr. Goyal noted that zero-duty access is now available across Europe and informed
industry representatives that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement would become operational
from 15 July. He urged manufacturers to immediately send delegations to explore
opportunities in the UK market.
Referring to the European Union market,
the Minister noted that duty-free access would extend across 27 countries, including
Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal. He described these as large and premium
markets where Indian products can command higher prices and encouraged manufacturers
to build globally recognised Indian toy brands capable of competing with leading
international players.
Mr. Goyal also referred to the Prime Minister's
forthcoming visit to Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand, noting that these markets
offer significant opportunities for Indian products. He highlighted that Australia
and New Zealand are developed markets and stated that duty-free access is available
for exports to Australia, while similar access to New Zealand is expected by the
end of the year.
The Minister further informed industry
representatives that Free Trade Agreements involving GCC countries, Mexico, Brazil
and Canada are expected to progress by the end of the year, opening additional opportunities
for Indian exporters. Expressing confidence in the sector's future, he stated that
the success of the toy industry would contribute directly to India's development
and called upon manufacturers to aspire for tenfold growth through improved quality,
branding and marketing.
Encouraging greater international outreach,
Mr. Goyal urged manufacturers to participate in overseas exhibitions and assured
support through the Export Promotion Mission. He also suggested the establishment
of warehousing facilities abroad and stated that the Government could support such
initiatives during the initial years to facilitate just-in-time delivery and improve
access to overseas markets.
Calling upon the Toy Association of India
to take a leadership role, the Minister noted that while the association currently
has around 1,200 members, nearly 21,000 toy manufacturers operate across the country.
He urged the association to bring all manufacturers under a common platform, stating
that a larger membership base would strengthen the industry's collective voice.
On the issue of Quality Control Orders
(QCOs), Mr. Goyal reiterated the Government's commitment to maintaining quality
standards and assured the industry of protection against unfair imports and dumping.
He stated that manufacturers facing such challenges could approach the Directorate
General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), DPIIT or other concerned authorities for timely
intervention and support.
The Minister urged industry stakeholders
to remain committed to quality and customer satisfaction, observing that Indian
consumers are no less important than consumers abroad. He described India's 140
crore-strong market as a major strength that provides economies of scale and emphasised
the need to ensure affordable, high-quality toys for children across all sections
of society.
Explaining the rationale behind transitional
arrangements under Quality Control Orders, Mr. Goyal said such provisions are intended
to facilitate investment, brand building and market development while strengthening
India's position as a global manufacturing hub. Drawing a comparison with the evolution
of India's automobile sector, he noted that greater competition and the entry of
international brands had improved quality standards, expanded consumer choice and
strengthened domestic manufacturers.
The Minister said that similar opportunities
exist in the toy sector through investment, employment generation, contract manufacturing
and technology transfer. He emphasised that while maintaining a balanced policy
approach, the interests of domestic manufacturers would remain a priority.
Expressing confidence in the capabilities
of Indian manufacturers, Mr. Goyal said they possess the talent and potential to
compete successfully with global players. He encouraged industry participants to
engage with overseas industries, brands, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms so
that Indian products gain wider global recognition.
Noting that toy exports have increased
by 239 per cent over the last four years, the Minister called upon the industry
to build on this momentum and aspire for tenfold growth in the years ahead. Highlighting
the sector's strong performance, toy imports declined by 32 per cent.
Recalling Prime Minister Mr. Narendra
Modi's remarks in Mann Ki Baat in 2020, Mr. Goyal said the Prime Minister had highlighted
India's potential to emerge as a global toy hub and had encouraged citizens to support
domestically manufactured products under the vision of self-reliance and Vocal for
Local.
The Minister said that over the eleven
years of the Make in India initiative, substantial support has been extended to
the toy industry. He noted that the National Toy Action Plan launched in 2020 provided
a clear roadmap for the sector's development. He added that more than 50 toy clusters
have been established across the country and that approximately 21,000 MSME units
are associated with toy manufacturing, with many also undertaking contract manufacturing
for Indian and international brands.
Highlighting the transformation of the
sector, Mr. Goyal said that while only around 12 per cent of the Indian toy market
was earlier served by domestically manufactured toys, imports now account for only
about ₹2,500-3,000 crore in an approximately ₹18,000 crore market, with
the remaining demand being met by Indian manufacturers. He noted that quality standards
have improved considerably but urged the industry not to become complacent.
The Minister called upon manufacturers
to continuously strive for improvement in product quality, materials, finishing
and manufacturing standards. He stressed the importance of high-quality paints,
superior finishing, safe edges and durable products, and urged the industry to prepare
a wish list of testing equipment that would facilitate quality certification. He
suggested batch-wise testing for durability, paint quality, finishing and the performance
of battery-operated and electronic toys, noting that certified high-quality products
would help manufacturers build stronger brands and capture greater market share.
The exhibition brought together over 400
Made-in-India toy brands, more than 15,000 business visitors, participants from
over 50 countries and stakeholders from across the toy manufacturing ecosystem.