Commerce Minister calls for transforming “Van Dhan to Vyapar Dhan” to empower tribal communities and showcase their craftsmanship worldwide

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Wednesday announced that the government will extend full support to tribal products with export potential through e-commerce platforms, international warehouses, and retail trade networks.

Addressing the Tribal Business Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Goyal said the initiative aims to ensure that tribal products gain greater visibility and access to both domestic and international markets.

He said, “The government is working to transform ‘Van Dhan to Vyapar Dhan,’ so that tribal products can reach global platforms and contribute to India’s vision of ‘Local Goes Global.’”

The conclave, organised during Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh marking the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, brought together over 250 tribal enterprises, including 100 start-ups and 150 exhibitors, under the theme ‘Tribal Bharat @2047: Sustaining Culture, Scaling Commerce’.

The Minister announced that a dedicated export promotion scheme is being developed to strengthen the market presence of tribal goods and crafts. He also highlighted a series of government measures aimed at tribal upliftment, including a 50 per cent increase in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and benefits under the PM-Janman Yojana, which has reached about 50 lakh vulnerable tribal families.

Goyal noted that fees for obtaining Geographical Indication (GI) tags have been reduced by 80 per cent from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1,000 to encourage wider registration of tribal products. He emphasised that India’s prosperity depends on the progress of its indigenous communities, adding that “the nation can truly grow only when its tribal citizens prosper.”