Toy Biz Exhibition showcases 400 Made-in-India brands, draws 15,000 visitors from over 50 countries

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, July 4: The 17th Toy Biz International B2B Exhibition 2026 emerged as a major showcase of India’s growing toy manufacturing sector on Saturday, with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announcing a series of measures to strengthen the industry, including the establishment of modern testing facilities across toy manufacturing clusters and enhanced support for exports. The exhibition featured over 400 Made-in-India toy brands, attracted more than 15,000 business visitors and participants from over 50 countries.

Addressing the exhibition, organised by the Toy Association of India (TAI), Goyal said the government would establish modern testing facilities through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Test House and other government laboratories. He urged the industry to identify testing equipment required to ensure Indian toys meet the highest quality standards for domestic and global markets.

The Minister called on manufacturers, particularly MSMEs, to scale up their operations and take advantage of the fact that export turnover is excluded from MSME classification, enabling businesses to grow while continuing to receive government support.

He also urged the industry to establish skill development centres in partnership with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and proposed setting up public-private Centres of Excellence equipped with facilities for testing, innovation, product development and design.

Goyal encouraged manufacturers to build globally recognised Indian toy brands and assured government support under the Export Promotion Mission for overseas market expansion. He also suggested establishing overseas warehousing facilities with initial government assistance to improve just-in-time delivery and market access.

Highlighting the global toy market, estimated at around US$120 billion, the Minister stressed that maintaining high quality standards would help India significantly increase its market share.

He urged manufacturers to adopt advanced technologies such as Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) systems and CNC machining to improve product quality, precision and production efficiency. He also emphasised superior manufacturing standards, including quality stitching, finishing and safe materials.

The Minister encouraged the industry to leverage India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), noting that nine agreements concluded under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership provide access to developed markets. He highlighted zero-duty access to Europe and informed manufacturers that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement would become operational on July 15, urging them to immediately explore opportunities in the UK market.

Goyal said upcoming trade agreements with GCC countries, Mexico, Brazil and Canada are also expected to create additional export opportunities by the end of the year.

Emphasising sustainable manufacturing, he urged companies to develop environmentally responsible products while strengthening domestic production of motors, electronics, dies and moulds required for toy manufacturing.

On Quality Control Orders (QCOs), the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting domestic manufacturers from unfair imports and dumping while maintaining high quality standards. He said affected manufacturers could approach the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), DPIIT and other authorities for timely intervention.

Highlighting the sector’s progress, Goyal said toy exports have grown by 239 per cent over the past four years, while imports have declined by 32 per cent. He called upon the industry to build on this momentum and target tenfold growth in the coming years.

He credited the Make in India initiative and the National Toy Action Plan, launched in 2020, for transforming the sector. More than 50 toy clusters have been established across the country, with nearly 21,000 MSME units now engaged in toy manufacturing.

The Minister said India’s domestic toy industry has witnessed a remarkable turnaround, with imports now accounting for only ₹2,500-3,000 crore in an estimated ₹18,000 crore market, compared with the heavy dependence on imported toys in previous years.

He urged manufacturers to continue improving product quality, safety, finishing and durability while preparing a comprehensive list of testing equipment needed for certification, saying that internationally certified products would strengthen Indian brands and enhance their competitiveness in global markets.