The rich legacy of craftsmanship nurtured across the hills of Himachal Pradesh is poised to find a much wider audience as the HIM MSME Fest, scheduled from January 3 to 5 at The Ridge and Peterhof in Shimla, brings the State’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative into sharp focus. The festival aims to create new opportunities for local products by linking traditional skills with national and global markets, giving artisans, farmers and small entrepreneurs a larger platform to grow.
The opening programme will feature a Startup Awards and Felicitation Ceremony to honour startups that have successfully turned innovative ideas into sustainable ventures, aiming to inspire entrepreneurship, innovation and self-reliance among youth. The day will conclude with a cultural evening showcasing Himachal Pradesh’s rich folk traditions through music and dance. Together, the awards and cultural programme will reflect a unique blend of industrial vision and cultural heritage, setting an inspiring tone for the festival and reinforcing the State’s identity and development aspirations.
Industry Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said the ODOP initiative has emerged as a catalyst for district-level economic transformation by aligning age-old practices with modern market systems. He noted that the programme is strengthening sustainable livelihoods across the State while ensuring that local talent is not confined to limited or seasonal markets.
According to the Minister, ODOP reflects the State Government’s value-driven approach to industrial development, with emphasis on agro-based processing, handicrafts, manufacturing and service sectors. By focusing on the strengths inherent in each district, the initiative is unlocking grassroots potential and converting it into viable economic opportunities.
A key highlight of the MSME Fest will be the collective showcasing of ODOP products from all districts of Himachal Pradesh on a single platform for the first time. A dedicated ODOP pavilion will enable producers to engage directly with leading national market players, including major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon. This interaction is expected to open avenues for branding, bulk procurement and long-term market linkages, helping local products compete beyond regional boundaries.
The Minister highlighted that every district in Himachal Pradesh carries a distinct product identity, now being strengthened through value addition, better packaging and improved access to markets. These include amla processing from Bilaspur, agro-product processing from Hamirpur, the globally recognised Chamba Rumal from Chamba, traditional Kullu shawls, Kangra tea and miniature paintings, Chulli oil from Kinnaur, seabuckthorn products from Lahaul and Spiti, steel furniture from Mandi, light engineering goods from Una, packaging products from Sirmaur, mushrooms from Solan and tourism services from Shimla supported by technological upgradation.
Describing the large-scale ODOP showcase at the MSME Fest as a decisive step towards market integration, Harshvardhan Chauhan reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continued policy support, infrastructure development and stronger market linkages. He said these efforts would ensure that Himachal Pradesh’s district-specific products gain recognition at both national and international levels.
He added that the MSME Fest is not merely an exhibition, but a reflection of the State’s vision for a self-reliant future, where every district confidently enters the wider marketplace with its unique identity and heritage intact.
