Fairtrade India (Centre for Social Markets), in partnership with the Fairtrade Network of Asia and Pacific Producers (Fairtrade-NAPP), is set to host the Second National Fairtrade in India Conference & Recognition Event on September 9–10, 2025 at The Chancery Pavilion, Bengaluru. Supported by the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme and EC FFPA, this landmark two-day event will bring together over 150 global and Indian stakeholders—including producers, businesses, policymakers, civil society, academia, and youth representatives.
With the theme “Sustainability, Markets, and Impact,” the conference aims to strengthen India’s role in ethical trade, sustainable agriculture, and climate-conscious supply chains. The agenda includes plenary and breakout sessions on sustainable agriculture, textile sector decarbonisation, EU sustainability regulations, youth initiatives, impact stories, and sustainable fashion.
India’s Fairtrade sector has shown significant growth:
- Domestic sales of Fairtrade-labelled products increased over threefold, from ₹23.92 crore (2022) to ₹77.22 crore (2024).
- Exports of Fairtrade-certified goods are valued at ₹330–₹450 crore annually.
- Nearly ₹49.81 crore in Fairtrade Premium (2023) was reinvested into education, healthcare, infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture for farming communities.
Distinguished speakers include Lisa Prassack (CEO, Fairtrade International), Blaise Desbordes (MD, Max Havelaar France), Claudia Brueck (Fairtrade Germany), Abhishek Jani (CEO, Fairtrade India Project), Bindu S (CEO, Fairtrade-NAPP), Charath Narsimhan (Indian Terrain), Vivek Sandhwar (Being Human), and several MSME and sustainability leaders.
Commenting on the conference, Mr. Pravakar Meher, Chairman, NAPP, said the event builds on the foundation laid by the first edition to advance ethical and sustainable trade in India, benefitting both farmers and businesses. Mr. Abhishek Jani, CEO, Fairtrade India Project, highlighted the urgency of sustainable markets amid climate challenges, noting that with fashion contributing 75% of the domestic Fairtrade market, India is positioned to lead in responsible and climate-conscious supply chains.