Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, called on industries across the state to embrace international quality standards and pursue zero-defect manufacturing, stressing that product finishing, reliability, and customer satisfaction are non-negotiable for Indian goods to hold their own in global markets. Sanghavi made the remarks at Ahmedabad's Manak Mahotsav, organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to mark World Standards Day 2026.

Key Message: Quality as a Market Gateway

Sanghavi was unambiguous in framing quality not as a compliance checkbox but as a commercial imperative. 'Quality is reflected not just in a product's price or brand, but also in its finishing, reliability and customer satisfaction,' he said, urging industrialists to identify shortcomings in their products and manufacturing processes and make the necessary improvements.

He emphasised that entering international markets demanded more than simply shipping products abroad — industries needed to meet and sustain global quality benchmarks consistently. From everyday consumer goods such as food products, toys, and garments to industrial components, he argued that quality standards were a cross-sector necessity for building buyer trust.

SMEs and Startups in Focus

A notable strand of the Deputy CM's address centred on Gujarat's startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He said adherence to international benchmarks would help these businesses connect with global markets, which critics often note are the hardest to access without credible quality certification. Sanghavi also pointed out that improvements in quality and productivity could open wider markets, and that even incremental changes in production processes could deliver significant results without requiring substantial capital investment — a message tailored squarely at resource-constrained smaller manufacturers.

He expressed confidence that coordinated action by the state government, industry bodies such as the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and individual businesses would strengthen Gujarat's overall competitiveness. 'Teamwork, innovation and a sustained focus on quality would help industries achieve new milestones and improve the global standing of products manufactured in Gujarat,' he added.

GCCI Chairman Calls for Uniform Standards Across Markets

GCCI chairman Rajesh Gandhi reinforced the quality theme, drawing on his background in the ice cream industry to make a pointed argument: manufacturers should maintain identical standards for domestic and export markets, rather than calibrating quality differently depending on the buyer's geography. 'Ensuring that every customer receives products of the same high quality, backed by stringent and internationally recognised standards, would improve the global acceptance of Indian goods and support the Make in India initiative,' Gandhi said.

He also stressed that the large number of certifications obtained by Gujarat's industries reflected growing awareness of quality standards, and urged BIS to develop norms more closely aligned with international benchmarks while continuing to encourage industrial quality improvement.

World Standards Day 2026: Spotlight on Clean Energy

This year's World Standards Day, observed annually on 14 October, highlighted United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which focuses on affordable and clean energy. The theme underscored the role of quality standards in promoting efficient energy use and the wider adoption of clean energy technologies — a framing that ties industrial quality culture to India's broader climate and energy transition commitments.

BIS Gujarat branch head Ajay Kumar Lal welcomed officials and attendees at the start of the programme. BIS, which works to promote standardisation and a quality culture across India, uses the annual observance to raise awareness among citizens and industry about the importance of safety, reliability, and quality in products and services. The event signals a continuing push to align Gujarat's manufacturing base with the demands of an increasingly quality-conscious global buyer.