Goyal highlights national duty behind 'Made in India' label
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that the 'Made in India' tag symbolises the country's reputation and dedication to quality, adding that quality is not just a corporate metric but a national duty. Speaking at a business plenary session in London on Saturday, Goyal underscored the importance of Indian manufacturers upholding global standards.
Florence Shoe Company example
Goyal cited the international success of Florence Shoe Company, based in Tamil Nadu, as an example of how Indian entrepreneurs enhance Brand India's reputation through top-notch manufacturing. He recounted the story of founder Aqeel Ahmed Panaruna, noting that an international consumer saw a high-end Hugo Boss shoe at Cairo Airport, examined the label, and discovered it read 'Made in India'. The shoe was manufactured in Ambur, Tamil Nadu, by Panaruna's firm.
"When you label a product 'Made in India', you are representing a country," Goyal stated. In a social media post, he elaborated that quality is a national requirement for business owners like Aqeel, not merely a corporate statistic.
Rural employment and women empowerment
"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. The minister's remarks came during an official visit to London from June 25-27 to discuss the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the United Kingdom and India.
The agreement, set to take effect on July 15, offers duty-free access to labour-intensive Indian goods such as shoes and leather. On June 26, Goyal announced the deployment of 1,000 advisory personnel across the country and the upgradation of the trade portal to help businesses maximise the benefits of the agreement.
Visit to Greece for bilateral trade
Following his engagements in the United Kingdom, Goyal is now leading a high-level business delegation to Athens, Greece. The delegation's focus is on expanding bilateral trade, investment flows and strategic economic collaboration. The engagements reflect the government's continued commitment to strengthening global economic partnerships, fostering innovation-led growth and advancing India's trade and investment diplomacy in key international markets.
During the visit to Greece, the delegation will participate in presentations and startup pitches at the Athens Startup Business Incubator, providing a platform to showcase next-generation enterprises and promote cross-border innovation partnerships. Focused roundtable discussions with Indian and Greek industry leaders at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry will cover key sectors including infrastructure, digitalisation, defence, food and agriculture.
The programme includes a high-level business interaction bringing together leading stakeholders from both countries to explore opportunities for enhanced investment and commercial partnerships across priority sectors. The delegation will also visit leading Greek enterprises to explore collaboration in advanced manufacturing and technology-driven sectors, strengthening industrial synergies between the two countries. The visit will conclude with interactions involving key business and institutional stakeholders aimed at deepening industry partnerships and expanding bilateral trade linkages.
