NEW DELHI, July 1: Amid slowdown in exports, India Design Council (IDC) has started an exercise to give certification for quality and design to Indian products with an aim to provide competitive advantage in international market.
An autonomous body under the Commerce and Industry Ministry, IDC has asked manufacturers, small and medium enterprises, brand owners and designers to submit their innovative products for getting the ‘India Design Mark’.
The granting of the mark is being done in association with G-Mark of Japan, which is a programme for the evaluation and encouragement of design organised by Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP).
The India Design Mark symbolises product excellence in form, function, quality, safety, sustainability and innovation, the Council said in an advertisement and added that the mark would communicate that the product is usable, durable, aesthetically appealing and is socially responsible.
“It acts as a brand extension and imparts competitive advantage to the product in local and international markets. It serves as a unique promotional launch pad for new products and services entering the market,” it said.
The symbol can be used in a wide range of ways, such as advertisements, catalogs, product packaging and other promotional mediums.
All types of products including computer and communication related, machine tools, construction machinery, lighting system, white goods, household appliances, capital goods, medical equipment, toys, vehicles can apply to get India Design Mark.
According to industry experts, this initiative will help in establishing brand India in the world market.
“One of the main aim of our Foreign Trade Policy is to promote brand India. It will increase buyers trust on Indian products, which will definitely help in increasing India’s exports,” Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said.
Sahai said the design mark would also help Indian products to compete with quality items in the world market.
The country’s exports declined by 4.16 per cent to USD 25.68 billion in May. (PTI)
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