The Consultative Committee meeting convened by the Ministry of Steel today marked a significant milestone in the discussion on a pioneering initiative jointly introduced by the Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The initiative aims to revolutionize the global market by introducing branding and labeling for ‘Made-in-India’ steel products, ensuring both enhanced attractiveness for buyers and standardized quality of goods.
Led by Union Minister of Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the meeting witnessed the presence of Minister of State for Steel, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Members of Parliament Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal and Shri Akhilesh Prasad Singh, along with officials from the Ministry of Steel and its associated Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
The session commenced with a comprehensive presentation by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, emphasizing the paramount importance of branding in propelling the Indian steel industry forward and aligning with the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. He highlighted the imperative to position India as a global manufacturing hub, stressing the necessity for a distinct identity for Indian steel, reflecting its quality, innovation, and sustainability.
In September 2022, under Shri Scindia’s guidance, the Ministry of Steel embarked on a collaborative journey involving key stakeholders such as the steel industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and the Quality Council of India (QCI) to chart the course for branding Indian steel products. This ‘Made in India’ branding initiative includes labeling domestic steel products with comprehensive details and a dedicated logo, accompanied by a QR code for easy identification and authentication.
This pioneering effort by the Ministry of Steel is unprecedented, marking the first-ever initiative by any ministry to introduce labeling and branding for a sector’s products. Shri Scindia emphasized that the unified brand identity for Indian-made steel will symbolize the nation’s robust manufacturing capabilities.
Updating on the current progress, the Minister highlighted significant achievements:
- All major Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) and 65% of India’s steel products are now integrated with standardized labels across product categories.
- Specifications for the Made in India logo placement have been finalized, and the rollout has commenced for select steel product categories.
- The Ministry successfully completed the system integration testing by ISPs in October, initiating the rollout with a new ‘Made in India’ label affixed on select product categories.
- A formal launch of the ‘Made in India’ branding for steel products is in the pipeline.
Looking ahead, the strategic plan unfolds in two phases:
- Phase-I aims for ISPs to progressively expand their product range with the ‘Made in India’ label, targeted for completion by March 2024.
- Phase-II will extend the ‘Made in India’ branding to Specialized Steel Plants (SSPs).
This comprehensive approach underscores the commitment to enhance the global recognition and quality assurance of Indian steel products, serving as a catalyst for the nation’s progression as a formidable force in the global steel industry.