Speaking at the inaugural Tribal Business Conclave in New Delhi on Wednesday (November 12, 2025), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the application fee for the Geographical Indications tag (GI tag) had been reduced to ₹1,000 from ₹5,000. He urged tribal artisans to register and protect traditional products and crafts. He further assured the support of his Ministry in creating export and e-commerce linkages for tribal enterprises, as well as international warehouses for their products.
The conclave, held by the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Culture, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, featured panel discussions and masterclasses on topics like financing innovations for and investments in tribal enterprises, partnerships, industry linkages, and skilling, among others.
Addressing the event, Mr. Goyal said schools, universities, industries, and the government “must work together” to ensure that products made by tribal artisans and craftspersons reach the larger domestic and global markets. The Commerce Minister further assured the “full support” of his Ministry and the DPIIT in this mission, by creating export and e-commerce linkages and facilitating international warehouses for tribal goods.
