Chandigarh, Aug. 19 -- The Centre has initiated the process to secure Geographical Indication (GI) registration for the traditional Amritsar shawl, offering the city's Rs.1,700-crore shawl industry a potential branding and market boost.

The issue came up in the Lok Sabha last week, when the Centre was asked about measures to preserve and promote Punjab's traditional textile industry. In its reply, Union minister of state for textiles Pabitra Margherita said the Textile Committee had filed an application under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act for registration of the traditional Amritsar shawl.

A GI registration gives legal recognition to a product whose quality, reputation or other characteristics a...