'Made in India' is a national responsibility, says Piyush Goyal in London
Synopsis
A Hugo Boss shoe spotted at Cairo Airport — labelled 'Made in India' — became the centrepiece of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's message in London: that quality is not a corporate checkbox but a national obligation. The anecdote, drawn from Tamil Nadu entrepreneur Aqeel Panaruna's journey, frames Brand India's manufacturing ambition as one built on craftsmanship, rural employment, and sustainability — not just price.
Key Takeaways
Piyush Goyal called the 'Made in India' label a national responsibility during his visit to London on 27 June .
Aqeel Panaruna , founder of Florence Shoe Company from Ambur, Tamil Nadu , shared how a Hugo Boss shoe manufactured by his firm was spotted at Cairo Airport with a 'Made in India' label.
Goyal credited Panaruna's firm with driving rural employment, women's empowerment in manufacturing, and pioneering zero liquid discharge sustainable technologies.
The minister held a roundtable with Asia House and senior global executives on the India-UK CETA and broader economic partnerships.
Goyal also met UKIBC members to advance the India-UK growth agenda across investment and cross-sector collaboration.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday, 27 June called quality under the 'Made in India' label a national responsibility, urging Indian entrepreneurs to remember they represent the country every time they brand a product. The minister made the remarks during his visit to London, sharing his thoughts in a post on X.
The Story Behind the Message
Goyal cited the example of Aqeel Panaruna, founder of Florence Shoe Company from Ambur, Tamil Nadu, whom he met at the Business Plenary Session in London. Panaruna recounted how an international customer at Cairo Airport spotted a luxury Hugo Boss shoe, checked its label, and found the words 'Made in India' — a product manufactured by his company.
'For entrepreneurs like Aqeel, quality is not just a corporate metric, it is a national responsibility. His work has not only put Indian craftsmanship on global shelves for iconic brands but has also driven large-scale rural employment, championed women's empowerment in manufacturing, and pioneered sustainable zero liquid discharge technologies,' Goyal said, lauding Panaruna's contribution.
Brand India on the Global Stage
The minister added that as India and the United Kingdom strengthen their trade corridors, entrepreneurs like Panaruna are proving to the world that Brand India stands at the very top tier. Goyal congratulated such entrepreneurs for making the 'Made in India' label a symbol of trust, excellence, and pride that sets global benchmarks.
Broader Engagements in London
Earlier the same day, Goyal held a productive roundtable with Asia House and senior executives from leading global firms, focusing on strengthening economic partnerships and exploring future opportunities. In a separate post on X, he highlighted India's strong manufacturing ecosystem and the opportunities available to deepen the partnership through the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
The minister also attended an interactive luncheon with members of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), engaging with C-suite representatives from leading global organisations. According to Goyal, discussions centred on unlocking new investment opportunities, accelerating capital flows, and deepening cross-sector collaboration to foster shared growth while strengthening India's global competitiveness.
What It Signals for India-UK Trade
The London engagements come at a critical juncture, with India and the UK in advanced stages of finalising their bilateral trade agreement. Goyal's emphasis on quality and Brand India appears designed to signal to global buyers and investors that Indian manufacturing has moved beyond cost arbitrage into craftsmanship and sustainability — a positioning that could prove decisive as both nations work to deepen economic ties.
Point of View
Even as output volumes grew. The Florence Shoe Company story — luxury brand, global shelf, rural Tamil Nadu workforce — is precisely the kind of proof point that trade diplomacy needs but rarely gets. Whether this translates into systemic quality enforcement, or remains a compelling speech moment, will determine how durable the Brand India positioning actually is as the India-UK CETA nears conclusion.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Piyush Goyal say about 'Made in India' in London?
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that quality under the 'Made in India' label is a national responsibility, not merely a corporate metric. He made the remarks during the Business Plenary Session in London on 27 June, sharing his views in a post on X.
Who is Aqeel Panaruna and why did Piyush Goyal mention him?
Aqeel Panaruna is the founder of Florence Shoe Company, based in Ambur, Tamil Nadu. Goyal cited him as an example of Indian entrepreneurship raising global standards after Panaruna recounted how a Hugo Boss shoe his firm manufactured was spotted by a customer at Cairo Airport bearing a 'Made in India' label.
What is the India-UK CETA and how does it relate to Goyal's London visit?
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a bilateral free trade deal under negotiation between India and the United Kingdom. Goyal's London engagements — including a roundtable with Asia House and a luncheon with UKIBC members — were aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and exploring opportunities within this framework.
What other engagements did Piyush Goyal have in London on 27 June?
Beyond the Business Plenary Session, Goyal held a roundtable with Asia House and senior global executives focused on economic partnerships, and attended an interactive luncheon with UK India Business Council (UKIBC) members to discuss investment opportunities and cross-sector collaboration.
How does Florence Shoe Company contribute beyond manufacturing?
According to Goyal, Florence Shoe Company has driven large-scale rural employment, championed women's empowerment in manufacturing, and pioneered sustainable zero liquid discharge technologies — making it a model for responsible Indian manufacturing on the global stage.
