Sikkim wins silver medal at national ODOP awards

Sikkim has secured second position in the National One District One Product (ODOP) Awards 2025 under the State/UT Category. The Silver Medal was presented to Sikkim at National ODOP Awards 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Monday. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada and Andhra Pradesh minister for Welfare of Backward Classes, Handlooms & Textiles S. Savitha were present on the occasion.

Sikkim Commerce & Industries department secretary Karma D Youtso alongside Principal Director, MSME Commerce & Industries M Ravikumar and General Manager Soreng District Anula Gurung attended the ceremony, which was also attended by senior officials from Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India; administrators and senior officials from various states and Union territories besides ODOP stakeholders across Singapore, New York, Vancouver, Kuwait amongst many others.

The event, which brought together ODOP champions from all corners of the country, witnessed Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Sikkim, delivering a compelling PowerPoint presentation highlighting the state’s vision, achievements, and the way forward under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.

Reiterating Sikkim’s position as India’s first 100% organic state, the Secretary emphasised the role of organic branding in boosting ODOP exports and farmer incomes while also highlighting the department’s ongoing efforts toward Geographical Indication (GI) tagging, packaging innovation, and digital marketing. In conclusion, the Secretary outlined that Sikkim remains committed to making ODOP not just a policy but a people-powered movement rooted in sustainability, pride, and innovation.

In his keynote address, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal commended the exceptional efforts of all participating states and districts, particularly highlighting ODOP as a “people-centric, district-driven movement that celebrates the soul of India.” He lauded the ODOP initiative as a transformative platform for local economies, emphasizing how “each district’s uniqueness is a national strength.”

Later, GM, DIC Soreng also contributed to the ODOP way forward discussion, along with stakeholders from states such as Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Delhi. During this discussion, she reiterated the state’s unique journey as India’s first 100% organic state, highlighting the seamless integration of traditional knowledge, sustainability and entrepreneurship under the ODOP vision. She also highlighted how ODOP is being seamlessly integrated with eco-tourism and rural homestay models in Sikkim turning visitors into product ambassadors.

The selection process for the National ODOP Awards 2025 was conducted through a meticulously structured, multi-tier evaluation framework, ensuring fairness, objectivity, and credibility by DPITT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. States and districts were assessed on a comprehensive set of parameters, including product innovation, value chain development, branding and packaging initiatives, market linkages, export performance, and community engagement.

The ODOP award recognizes the dynamic leadership of Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Sikkim, for mobilizing local producers, strengthening forward and backward linkages, and building national and global visibility for the state’s unique offerings.