New Delhi plans to globally position khadi as Indian brand

Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu convened a meeting with officials from various departments last week to chalk out an institutional strategy for the same and devise measures to boost exports of products made using the indigenous hand-spun fabric, according to a news agency report.

Secretaries from the commerce and industry, textiles and chemicals ministries and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) were present in the meeting coordinated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

The commerce ministry, which has established a trust called India Brand Equity Foundation (IBRF) to promote and create international awareness of the ‘Made in India’ label in markets overseas and to facilitate dissemination of knowledge of Indian products and services, has agreed to extend help, Panda said.

The MSME ministry is also mulling over formulating a detailed road map in this regard with assistance from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.

The move may prevent foreign companies trying to register khadi as a trademark. A German company Khadi Natureprodukte GbR had registered khadi as a trademark with Spain-based Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, the nodal agency that looks after trademarks and design registration in the European Union.

A considerable jump in sales of khadi products — minimum 40-50 per cent — is anticipated this year, Panda added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India