**Summary:**
On August 22, 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, conducted a review of the functioning of the five Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce: the Spices Board, Tea Board, Rubber Board, Coffee Board, and Turmeric Board. The review focused on strategies to enhance export opportunities through market diversification, promotion of value-added products, adherence to quality standards, and effective utilization of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
A key directive from the Minister was the promotion of "Brand India" through collaborative efforts between the Plantation Boards and the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), with both entities contributing equally. Shri Goyal proposed the establishment of a "Bharat Pavilion" at major international and domestic fairs to collectively showcase the products of the Boards. Furthermore, the Minister instructed all Boards to promote their Geographical Indication (GI) products, incorporating "India" within their logos.
The review also emphasized the welfare of growers, workers, and their families through existing schemes, alongside the implementation of skilling programs in coordination with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Minister acknowledged ongoing capacity-building and training programs aimed at promoting good agricultural practices, quality, and organic production. He stressed the importance of supporting all stakeholders through ease of doing business measures, sensitization, and outreach programs.
Finally, Shri Goyal encouraged the Boards to explore the creation of a common incubation center, modeled after the Atal Innovation Mission, to foster research, innovation, and startups within the plantation sector.
Contacts: Abhishek Dayal, Abhijith Narayanan, Ishita Biswas. Release ID: 2159806
Key Entities Referenced
Piyush Goyal: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry
Plantation Boards: A group of boards including Spices Board, Tea Board, Rubber Board, Coffee Board, and Turmeric Board under the Department of Commerce.
Department of Commerce: A department overseeing the Plantation Boards.
Spices Board: One of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce.
Tea Board: One of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce.
Rubber Board: One of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce.
Coffee Board: One of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce.
Turmeric Board: One of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush
Goyal, reviews functioning of Plantation Boards
Shri Goyal calls for market diversification, promotion
of brand ‘India’ and showcasing of Plantation Boards
through Bharat Pavilion
Posted On: 22 AUG 2025 5:06PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, reviewed the functioning of the Plantation
Boards under the Department of Commerce – Spices Board, Tea Board, Rubber Board, Coffee Board and
Turmeric Board. Senior officers of the Department of Commerce and the respective Boards attended the
meeting.
The Minister emphasized the need to expand export opportunities through market diversification, promotion
of value-added products, maintenance of quality standards, and optimum utilization of the benefits available
to India under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). He stressed on the promotion of brand ‘India’ by the
Boards in collaboration with the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), with each contributing equally. He
suggested the establishment of a ‘Bharat Pavilion’ in all major international and domestic fairs to enable the
Boards to collectively showcase their products. The Minister also directed that all Boards should promote
their Geographical Indication (GI) products with ‘India’ incorporated as part of their logo.
Shri Goyal urged the Boards to ensure the welfare of growers, workers and their families through existing
schemes. He underlined the need for skilling programmes for them and directed the Boards to coordinate with
the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in this regard. He expressed satisfaction that capacity
building and training programmes were already being undertaken to promote good agricultural practices,
quality, and organic production. He further emphasized that all stakeholders of the Boards should be
supported through ease of doing business measures, sensitization and outreach programmes.
The Minister also called upon the Boards to explore the creation of a common incubation centre, on the lines
of the Atal Innovation Mission, to encourage research, innovation and start-ups.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2159806)