India's Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged handloom and handicraft products will take centre stage at the GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit, organised on Wednesday, 2 August at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event is being held by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), under the Ministry of Textiles, in association with the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), according to an official statement.

What the Summit Covers

The summit is designed to promote India's GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products and facilitate collaboration across the GI ecosystem. It will bring together overseas buyers from approximately 10 countries, exporters, multinational corporations (MNCs), registered GI proprietors, Central and state government officials, and experts from leading textile brands, retail chains, e-commerce platforms, academia, and industry.

A centrepiece of the event will be a display of more than 100 GI-registered handloom and handicraft products sourced from across India, accompanied by thematic exhibits of the country's diverse weaving traditions and live demonstrations of handloom weaving and handicraft techniques.

Key Launches and Announcements

The inaugural session will be presided over by Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita as Chief Guest, with Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao serving as Guest of Honour. During the session, GI certificates will be presented to registered proprietors and newly authorised users.

A significant highlight will be the launch of the Digital Handloom Atlas — subtitled 'One Platform. Endless Markets' — a comprehensive digital platform built to connect Indian artisans and GI product makers with global buyers. The Diamond Jubilee Logo of the HEPC will also be unveiled at the event.

AI and Intellectual Property in Focus

Experts from IIT Madras will deliver a special presentation on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen the GI ecosystem — a notable convergence of traditional craftsmanship and emerging technology. Technical sessions will deliberate on GI Registration, Intellectual Property Rights, strategies for promoting GI products in domestic markets, and approaches to leveraging GI handloom products in international trade.

Why This Summit Matters

India holds one of the world's largest repositories of GI-tagged products, spanning textiles, crafts, food, and agri-produce. Yet market penetration — particularly in export markets — has remained limited relative to the scale and diversity of registered products. The GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit represents a structured push to bridge that gap, linking artisans directly to global supply chains through digital infrastructure and policy dialogue. This comes amid growing international demand for authentic, traceable craft products, where GI tags serve as a credibility marker for buyers abroad.

What Happens Next

The Digital Handloom Atlas, once operational, is expected to serve as a persistent marketplace connecting weavers and craft producers with international buyers beyond the summit. Industry stakeholders and policymakers are anticipated to outline follow-up action on GI registration timelines and export promotion strategies in the sessions that follow the inauguration.