In a written reply to Shri Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durga Das Uikey, announced that the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into strategic collaborations with institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) as of February 2025.

These Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aim to bolster tribal entrepreneurship by focusing on three core areas:

Improving product design Infusing technology into traditional crafts Enhancing market access through both online and offline platforms

The initiative is set to support tribal artisans, including members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), by promoting their craft, enhancing visibility, and generating sustainable livelihoods.

The collaborations are intended to expand the footprint of tribal products across India and globally by enabling access to design interventions, marketing platforms, and fair pricing mechanisms. They also seek to preserve and promote tribal culture by incorporating tribal artisans into production clusters and helping them become self-reliant entrepreneurs.

TRIFED is already engaged in the retail marketing of tribal products through its TRIBES India outlets, e-commerce platforms, and participation in national exhibitions. To date, TRIFED has facilitated the onboarding of over 13,000 tribal products on various digital marketplaces.

The Minister stated that, subject to specific proposals, TRIFED is open to forging similar partnerships with other organisations to further expand the market reach and global recognition of tribal craftsmanship.