DPIIT and Hafele India Unite to Boost Manufacturing Startups and MSMEs

In a landmark development for India’s industrial and entrepreneurial landscape, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Häfele India Pvt. Ltd. on 07 May 2025 in New Delhi. The agreement marks a significant stride toward fortifying India’s manufacturing and innovation ecosystem by focusing on product startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and budding entrepreneurs.

The MoU, signed by Dr. Sumeet Jarangal, Director, DPIIT, and Mr. Frank Schloeder, Managing Director – South Asia, Häfele India, aims to harness global expertise and local innovation to establish resilient supply chains and catalyze India’s ambition of becoming a world-class manufacturing hub.

Strategic Collaboration to Drive Innovation and Local Sourcing

At the heart of this partnership lies a commitment to drive product innovation, promote local sourcing, and accelerate entrepreneurship. Häfele India will spearhead targeted investments, extend mentorship to emerging ventures, and enable their integration into global value chains.

Through this collaboration, startups and MSMEs will gain vital access to infrastructure, technical collaborations, supplier development programs, and potential market avenues—both domestic and international. These initiatives are geared toward elevating the capabilities of Indian entrepreneurs, enabling them to compete on a global scale.

Häfele has already demonstrated its commitment by investing over USD 2.5 million in an Indian appliance manufacturing startup. Furthermore, it has actively engaged with Indian MSMEs by issuing purchase orders for architectural hardware and furniture fittings—critical components in the interior solutions and hardware industry.

DPIIT to Facilitate Ecosystem Access through Startup India

On its part, DPIIT will leverage the robust framework of Startup India to connect emerging startups with opportunities offered by Häfele. This will include enabling participation in curated mentorship programs, technical sessions, and co-branded entrepreneurial initiatives designed to amplify impact and visibility.

The collaboration will benefit from DPIIT’s extensive network within India’s startup ecosystem, facilitating synergies between government, industry, and enterprise-level stakeholders. This public-private partnership underscores the government’s commitment to enabling sustainable and innovation-driven industrial growth.

Leadership Insights: Fostering Collaborative Ecosystems

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, highlighted the significance of this collaboration. “The partnership with Häfele India exemplifies our approach of fostering collaborative industrial ecosystems. It brings together global best practices and local entrepreneurial energy to drive sustainable manufacturing growth aligned with the Make in India vision,” he noted.

Mr. Frank Schloeder expressed Häfele’s enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “At Häfele, we believe that India’s innovation and manufacturing potential is unmatched. Through this MoU, we are excited to deepen our engagement with Indian entrepreneurs and startups and work together toward the vision of ‘India for India’ today and ‘India for the World’ tomorrow.”

A Long-Term Vision with Global Aspirations

The agreement is slated to remain in force for two years from the date of signing, with an open clause for extension based on mutual agreement. This long-term outlook indicates a sustained effort to boost India’s manufacturing base and innovation capacity.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from DPIIT and Häfele, symbolizing a shared vision for fostering innovation, job creation, and industrial resilience in India. As India continues its upward trajectory toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, strategic alliances like this one will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation’s economic and industrial landscape.