Addressing the 17th Toy Biz International B2B Exhibition 2026, organised by the Toy Association of India (TAI) in New Delhi, today the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, highlighted the remarkable progress made by the Indian toy industry in recent years through sustained policy support and industry-led innovation.

The Minister assured the industry that the Government would establish modern testing facilities across toy manufacturing clusters in the country through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Test House and other government and semi-government laboratories. He urged industry stakeholders to identify and communicate the testing equipment required to ensure that Indian toys meet the highest quality standards for both domestic and international consumers.

The Minister encouraged MSMEs to continuously scale up their operations, stating that every micro enterprise should aspire to become small, every small enterprise should aspire to become medium and every medium enterprise should aspire to become large. He pointed out that export turnover is not included while determining MSME status, allowing enterprises to expand substantially while continuing to benefit from the MSME framework.

The Minister called upon industry leaders to establish skill development centres and partner with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to train workers in advanced manufacturing practices and good manufacturing practices. He proposed a public-private partnership model under which industry and government could jointly establish Centres of Excellence equipped with facilities for testing, product development, innovation and design.

He suggested that such Centres of Excellence could include dedicated design centres, facilities for testing new products and spaces for showcasing newly launched high-quality products. He also encouraged manufacturers to undertake brand-building initiatives and assured support through Export Promotion Mission.

Emphasising the importance of quality, Shri Goyal said that maintaining high standards would enable India to significantly expand its presence in the global toy market, which is estimated at around US$120 billion.

Highlighting the need for technological advancement, Shri Goyal urged manufacturers to adopt Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies and CNC machining to improve product quality, precision and efficiency. The Minister noted that integrating CAD-CAM with CNC-based manufacturing would enable the industry to develop high-quality products with greater precision and efficiency. He also emphasised the importance of using modern machinery and continuously improving manufacturing processes, stating that technological upgradation would help Indian toy manufacturers strengthen their competitiveness and establish a distinct position in global markets.

The Minister also underscored the importance of quality stitching, superior thread quality, machine-stitched products and attention to manufacturing details, noting that such factors often determine success in global markets. Appreciating exporters supplying products to the Middle East, he encouraged the industry to take advantage of opportunities in developed markets opened through India's recent Free Trade Agreements.

Referring to the nine Free Trade Agreements concluded under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Goyal noted that these agreements provide access to developed and high-income markets where high-quality products can command greater value.

Shri Goyal urged manufacturers to send business delegations across the world, particularly to the 38 countries covered under India's nine FTAs. He encouraged the industry to showcase India's strengths globally and engage directly with local industries, brands, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms in overseas markets.

Emphasising sustainability, the Minister urged manufacturers to focus on sustainable products and sustainable manufacturing practices. He stressed the importance of developing domestic capabilities in the production of motors, electronics, dies and moulds used in toy manufacturing, stating that a self-reliant ecosystem and large-scale production would improve competitiveness and reduce costs.

Highlighting market opportunities, Shri Goyal noted that zero-duty access is now available across Europe and informed industry representatives that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement would become operational from 15 July. He urged manufacturers to immediately send delegations to explore opportunities in the UK market.

Referring to the European Union market, the Minister noted that duty-free access would extend across 27 countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal. He described these as large and premium markets where Indian products can command higher prices and encouraged manufacturers to build globally recognised Indian toy brands capable of competing with leading international players.

Shri Goyal also referred to the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand, noting that these markets offer significant opportunities for Indian products. He highlighted that Australia and New Zealand are developed markets and stated that duty-free access is available for exports to Australia, while similar access to New Zealand is expected by the end of the year.

The Minister further informed industry representatives that Free Trade Agreements involving GCC countries, Mexico, Brazil and Canada are expected to progress by the end of the year, opening additional opportunities for Indian exporters. Expressing confidence in the sector's future, he stated that the success of the toy industry would contribute directly to India's development and called upon manufacturers to aspire for tenfold growth through improved quality, branding and marketing.

Encouraging greater international outreach, Shri Goyal urged manufacturers to participate in overseas exhibitions and assured support through the Export Promotion Mission. He also suggested the establishment of warehousing facilities abroad and stated that the Government could support such initiatives during the initial years to facilitate just-in-time delivery and improve access to overseas markets.

Calling upon the Toy Association of India to take a leadership role, the Minister noted that while the association currently has around 1,200 members, nearly 21,000 toy manufacturers operate across the country. He urged the association to bring all manufacturers under a common platform, stating that a larger membership base would strengthen the industry's collective voice.

On the issue of Quality Control Orders (QCOs), Shri Goyal reiterated the Government's commitment to maintaining quality standards and assured the industry of protection against unfair imports and dumping. He stated that manufacturers facing such challenges could approach the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), DPIIT or other concerned authorities for timely intervention and support.

The Minister urged industry stakeholders to remain committed to quality and customer satisfaction, observing that Indian consumers are no less important than consumers abroad. He described India's 140 crore-strong market as a major strength that provides economies of scale and emphasised the need to ensure affordable, high-quality toys for children across all sections of society.

Explaining the rationale behind transitional arrangements under Quality Control Orders, Shri Goyal said such provisions are intended to facilitate investment, brand building and market development while strengthening India's position as a global manufacturing hub. Drawing a comparison with the evolution of India's automobile sector, he noted that greater competition and the entry of international brands had improved quality standards, expanded consumer choice and strengthened domestic manufacturers.

The Minister said that similar opportunities exist in the toy sector through investment, employment generation, contract manufacturing and technology transfer. He emphasised that while maintaining a balanced policy approach, the interests of domestic manufacturers would remain a priority.

Expressing confidence in the capabilities of Indian manufacturers, Shri Goyal said they possess the talent and potential to compete successfully with global players. He encouraged industry participants to engage with overseas industries, brands, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms so that Indian products gain wider global recognition.

Noting that toy exports have increased by 239 per cent over the last four years, the Minister called upon the industry to build on this momentum and aspire for tenfold growth in the years ahead. Highlighting the sector's strong performance, toy imports declined by 32 per cent.

Recalling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's remarks in Mann Ki Baat in 2020, Shri Goyal said the Prime Minister had highlighted India's potential to emerge as a global toy hub and had encouraged citizens to support domestically manufactured products under the vision of self-reliance and Vocal for Local.

The Minister said that over the eleven years of the Make in India initiative, substantial support has been extended to the toy industry. He noted that the National Toy Action Plan launched in 2020 provided a clear roadmap for the sector's development. He added that more than 50 toy clusters have been established across the country and that approximately 21,000 MSME units are associated with toy manufacturing, with many also undertaking contract manufacturing for Indian and international brands.

Highlighting the transformation of the sector, Shri Goyal said that while only around 12 per cent of the Indian toy market was earlier served by domestically manufactured toys, imports now account for only about ₹2,500-3,000 crore in an approximately ₹18,000 crore market, with the remaining demand being met by Indian manufacturers. He noted that quality standards have improved considerably but urged the industry not to become complacent.

The Minister called upon manufacturers to continuously strive for improvement in product quality, materials, finishing and manufacturing standards. He stressed the importance of high-quality paints, superior finishing, safe edges and durable products, and urged the industry to prepare a wish list of testing equipment that would facilitate quality certification. He suggested batch-wise testing for durability, paint quality, finishing and the performance of battery-operated and electronic toys, noting that certified high-quality products would help manufacturers build stronger brands and capture greater market share.

The exhibition brought together over 400 Made-in-India toy brands, more than 15,000 business visitors, participants from over 50 countries and stakeholders from across the toy manufacturing ecosystem.

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Abhijith Narayanan/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas