Guwahati, Jan 9: In a significant step towards protecting the intellectual property of traditional crafts from India’s Northeast, the Textiles Committee under the Ministry of Textiles and the North Eastern Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (NEHHDC) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Geographical Indications (GI) registration and post-GI initiatives.
The MoU was signed during the North Eastern Region Conclave held in Guwahati, Assam, according to an announcement issued by PIB Delhi.
The collaboration aims to strengthen Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection for unique handloom and handicraft products from the Northeastern states through GI registration under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, along with sustained post-registration support.
In the first phase, the initiative will facilitate GI registration of 33 unique products from the region, including 18 products from Nagaland and 15 from Meghalaya. These products represent the rich traditional knowledge and craftsmanship of local artisans and weavers.
Beyond registration, the partnership will focus on capacity building, branding and market linkages to ensure long-term sustainability and wider recognition of Northeastern crafts. The two organisations will work closely with Central and State Governments to strengthen the textiles, handloom, handicrafts, khadi and allied sectors in the region.
Describing the agreement as a landmark step, officials said the initiative is expected to empower artisans and weavers, enhance the global visibility of Northeastern textiles and handicrafts, and create new economic opportunities through branding and market expansion.
The collaboration underscores the government’s broader push to protect traditional knowledge systems while integrating regional crafts into national and global value chains.
