Bengaluru gets first GI products store

Bengaluru: The country has got a first-of-its-kind store in Bengaluru where Geographical Indication (GI) products are sold. The store is located in HSR Layout and has been established by a group of GI product enthusiasts under the banner of Geographical Indications Tagged World Premium Products Limited (GITWPL).

The GI tag is given to products that possess certain unique features that are reflective of a specific geographical location and its heritage. This tag is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods. There are 10,000 products with the GI tag all over the world, out of which 350 are from India and 36 from Karnataka.

Some of these products are Mysore silk, Mysore agarbatti, Bidriware, Channapatna toys, Byadagi chilli, Nanjangud bananas and Devanahalli pomelo. The store will especially deal with the sale and retail of these products. S.J. Tejas who is the owner of the store says that such a store showcases the culture of the country. The store also houses the famous Villainur Terracotta works in the form of statues of horses and elephants.