Union Minister Piyush Goyal, during his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, inaugurated the “One District One Product” (ODOP) Wall at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on October 31. This initiative aims to showcase local products from different districts of India on international platforms, promoting them as part of the “Made in India” movement.
Event Overview
- Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the “One District One Product” (ODOP) Wall at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh during his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on October 31.
Objective of ODOP
- The initiative aims to highlight local products from various districts in India on international platforms.
- It seeks to transform these districts into “Made in India” hubs to boost visibility and market reach.
Economic Empowerment
- The program focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods for Indian artisans and entrepreneurs through partnerships with global retail chains.
- Goyal emphasized that ODOP enhances the visibility of local Indian products, generating economic opportunities for communities.
Interactions with ICAI
- Goyal met with members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) chapter in Saudi Arabia.
- He encouraged chartered accountants to adopt best practices and strengthen India-Saudi Arabia economic ties.
Cultural Engagement
- Minister Goyal participated in Diwali celebrations hosted by the Indian Embassy, which included cultural performances reflecting India’s diversity.
- The event coincided with the closing ceremony of “Pravasi Parichay,” designed to connect the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia with their roots.
Recognition of Indian Diaspora
- Goyal acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora to India’s economic growth and cultural exchange.
- He highlighted the role of the diaspora as a cultural bridge between India and Saudi Arabia, fostering mutual understanding.
Strategic Partnership
- Goyal’s visit aligns with efforts to deepen the India-Saudi Arabia strategic partnership.
- His agenda included exploring new trade, investment, and economic cooperation opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations.
About ODOP programme
- It was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in 2018.
- Objective: To help districts reach their full potential, foster economic and socio-cultural growth, and create employment opportunities, especially, in rural areas.
- This initiative aims to turn every district in India, into an export hub through promotion of the product in which the district specializes.
What is the process?
- Under the ODOP initiative, all products have been selected by States/UTs by taking into consideration the existing ecosystem on the ground, products identified under Districts as Export Hubs (DEH), and GI-tagged products.
- The finalized list is communicated to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) by the relevant Department of States/UTs.