The Karnataka government is planning to come out with a GI (geographical indication) Policy in the State, according to an official of the State government.

In an informal chat with mediapersons on the sidelines of an interactive meeting with exporters at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Mangaluru on Friday, SR Satheesha, Managing Director of the Bengaluru-based Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre (a Karnataka government organisation), said the State has 45 GI products in different sectors, including handicraft, horticulture, etc. Karnataka has maximum number of GI products among other states in the country.

Stating that VTPC (Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre ) is working on a strategy document on GI products in the State, he said: “We will have focussed meeting with the respective GI holders in the state. We will visit them to understand their issues, and to provide interventions wherever needed.”

Highlighting the instances of gradual diminishing of some GI products in the State, he said the number of artisans producing ‘Udupi sari’ is coming down gradually. In such a situation, GI policy will help provide focused training programmes and skill upgradation facilities to the stakeholders of GI products.

Apart from this, the policy will also want to make GI products competitive in the domestic and international markets. Considering this, plans are there to introduce concepts such as ‘GI tourism’, ‘GI exhibitions’, and ‘GI stores’ at airports, and also to develop ‘GI cluster’ in the State.

Asked if any other State has taken initiative to launch a GI policy, he said Karnataka will be the first State to come out with a GI policy.

Being niche in their segments, GI products have a lot of potential in the market. Somehow, they are not being marketed properly, Satheesha said.

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