Indian GI Crafts Go Global

The Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East 2025, held from 11th November to 13th November 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, provided a major global platform for Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to present their distinctive handicrafts, gifts, toys, and home-décor items to a worldwide audience. 

This year, an official delegation organised by India SME Forum represented 13 authentic Indian Geographical Indications (GI) products. The GI-tagged producers brought to the fair authentic products deeply rooted in India’s artisanal traditions, including region-specific textiles, handicrafts, woodwork, carpets, and décor items. Such GI certification underscores both the uniqueness of origin and cultural value of the products, helping preserve regional heritage and safeguard intellectual property. 

Support from the government came through the Ministry of MSME, via its MSME Innovation Scheme. This backing enabled participating producers to gain international exposure, improving export readiness and opening new business horizons. Mr. Amit Kumar Tamaria, Joint Director, Ministry of MSME, was present on all three days to boost the confidence of the participants. Mr. Tamaria led the delegation.

The Hon’ble Consul General of India in Dubai, Mr. Satish Kumar Sivan, graciously visited the Indian pavilion and engaged with the exhibitors.

At the fair, Indian exhibitors spanned across multiple sectors such as handicrafts and gifts, toys, home décor and lifestyle products, offering a wide variety of items such as handcrafted home furnishings, décor accessories, artisanal gifts, sustainable design pieces, and more.

Moreover, the fair offered Indian MSMEs a chance to directly meet international buyers, distributors, and sourcing professionals, allowing them to understand evolving consumer preferences, gather market feedback, and forge export relationships. Observers noted that this engagement is especially relevant now given strong growth in Indian handicraft exports and increasing demand for sustainable, handmade, and culturally rooted lifestyle products globally. 

In sum, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East 2025 was more than just an exhibition for Indian MSMEs; it was a strategic gateway to global markets, a showcase of India’s living crafts heritage, and a platform reinforcing the value of GI-tagged authenticity and government-backed export promotion. For many small producers and artisans, the fair marked a milestone in scaling their reach internationally while preserving traditional craftsmanship.