The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Thursday said it has joined hands with Hafele India, a furniture industry company, to help startups in the manufacturing sector.

Hafele will, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), undertake initiatives that will support product innovation, local sourcing, and entrepreneurship through strategic investments, mentorship, and value chain integration. The firm will also step up its assistance to startups and MSMEs through access to infrastructure, supplier development opportunities, technical collaboration, and market access, according to the department.

DPIIT will enable access to the ecosystem by means of Startup India, which will provide connectivity for startups, joining programs, and co-branding opportunities.

Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director of DPIIT, noted, "Our aim is to empower startups that are creating the next wave of globally competitive manufacturing capacities through investments, mentorship, and ecosystem alliances." Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, further said that this association will conjoin global best practices with indigenous entrepreneurial vigour to foster sustainable growth of manufacturing in accordance with the Make in India initiative. The MoU was signed on behalf of Jarangal and Frank Schloeder, Managing Director - South Asia, Hafele India.