India’s first GI Fair, offering global reach to invaluable native products, set to open on 26th Aug

Greater Noida, August 25th, 2022: India’s first Geographical Indications (GI) B2B fair is all set to begin on August 26th at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida. It is a three-day event organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The GI-tagged products are “Invaluable treasures of Incredible India” and aim to build confidence amongst the buying community.

India GI Fair is India’s first trade event of its kind, showcasing the strength of Indian Geographically Indicated (GI) products, through an exhibitor strength of 300+ on a vibrant platform with 6 major categories segmented into materials & wares, foods & ingredients, nature & wellness, handicrafts & handloom, home & collectibles and fashion & accessories.

India GI Fair provides unique access to India’s treasure trove and authentic products. Some of the examples of registered Indian GIs are Kolhapuri Chappal, Kashmir Pashmina, Darjeeling Tea, Tirupathi Laddu, Kangra Paintings, Nagpur Orange, etc.

Sharing the concept of the fair, Mr. Raj K Malhotra, Chairman, EPCH, said, “An experience in itself, this show offers a common platform to source Banaras brocade and sari; Ghazipur wall hanging; Madhubani paintings; Allagadda stonecarving; Warangal durries; Kashmir sozani craft; Moga silk of Assam; Bastar Dokra; Channapatna Toys; Uttarakhand Aipan craft; Idu Mishmi Textiles from Arunachal Pradesh; Navara rice of Kerala and many more. The list is amazing just as the inimitable treasure. The collective intellectual heritage and ethos of GI Tagged products of India is constituted in this show. India GI Fair aims to connect these invaluable native products, aptly called Legal Local, to connoisseurs and clientele in India as well as the global market.”

Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General, EPCH, shared, “Globally, the GI (Geographical Indication) tag is given to products that have distinct qualities and tradition linked to their place of origin. India boasts of many such rarities, of which nearly 390+ are registered till date. At the India GI Fair, one will witness participations from 300+ GI producers from 30 states and UTs and will see the largest and most comprehensive collection from this list, ever to be brought together under one roof. India GI Fair also makes business sense in a unique way. It is a place to broaden one’s horizons with unique products as well as crafts. Here one can see and source India’s best nurtured treasures, traditions and rarities.” He further added, “Curated with an ambition to take these to the world markets, this show offers buyers, an opportunity to carve their niche too. India GI Fair is the must-be-place where visitors can also meet peers and stakeholders to do business.”

Dr. Rajni Kant, Padma Shri awardee, GI Expert, and the General Secretary of Human Welfare Association, Varanasi in conversation with Ten News, explained that the entire ecosystem has developed in GIs over the years, wherein Govt. of India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force with effect from 15th September 2003 and an act was passed in the Parliament and became a law in 2005.

“Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get the GI tag product of the country and since then there have been over 390 GI registered products in the country.”

He praised the efforts of EPCH in organizing this important event which will surely have a multiplier effect in the years to come and would result in the registration of much more GIs in the future.

He also stressed the need to safeguard India’s intellectual property through GI registration. He further said that in the last year, 75 new GIs have been filed on the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence, which is a record in itself.

India GI Fair aims to connect these invaluable native products, to connoisseurs and clientele of the global market.

The country has 390+ GI products out of which 200+ are Handicrafts and Handlooms.
Artistic products and masterpieces from all states of India will be showcased at the fair at a global level.

With more than 300 exhibitors, India GI Fair is the first and only trade platform of its kind to source inimitable products across India, all under one roof.