The Textiles Committee under the Ministry of Textiles and the North Eastern Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation signed a landmark memorandum of understanding on 8 January 2026 in Guwahati to strengthen intellectual property protection for unique handloom and handicraft products from the North Eastern region through Geographical Indication registration and post registration initiatives.
The agreement was signed during the North Eastern Region Conclave organised by the Ministry of Textiles and marks a significant step towards safeguarding traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and cultural heritage of the region’s artisans and weavers.
Under the partnership, the two organisations will initially facilitate GI registration for 33 distinctive products from the North East, including 18 products from Nagaland and 15 from Meghalaya, under the Geographical Indications of Goods Registration and Protection Act 1999. Beyond registration, the collaboration will focus on post GI initiatives such as capacity building, branding, value addition and creation of strong market linkages to ensure sustainable growth and wider recognition of Northeastern crafts.
The Textiles Committee and NEHHDC will also work jointly with central and state governments to strengthen the textiles, handloom, handicrafts, khadi and allied sectors in the region. The initiative is expected to empower artisans and weavers by protecting their intellectual property, enhance global visibility of Northeastern products and create new economic opportunities through branding and market expansion.
The MoU signing coincided with a high level conclave on strengthening and empowering the textile sector of the North Eastern Region, organised by the Ministry of Textiles in Guwahati. The conclave brought together textile and industry ministers, members of parliament, senior officials from North Eastern states and the central government, and representatives of key textile sector institutions.
Addressing the conclave, the Union Minister for Textiles said the North Eastern region is an integral part of India’s textile ecosystem and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its development. Deliberations highlighted the region’s rich handloom heritage, GI tagged products, diverse silk varieties, bamboo crafts and the strong participation of women artisans and weavers.
The conference underscored the need for a coordinated and integrated approach to strengthen value chains, enhance exports, attract investment and combine traditional skills with modern technology, design innovation and improved market access. The initiatives announced at the conclave are expected to play a key role in accelerating textile sector growth and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development across the North Eastern states.
