Does “Made in India” Matter to Consumers?

Is the “Made in India” label important to consumers? The answer is yes and no. While “Made in India” was the most popular label in the country – viewed more favorably even than “Made in the U.S.” or “Made in Germany” – quality, price and brand name still mattered more to consumers than where a product was made.

According to a survey by YouGov, Indians were most likely to check a country of origin label for food, but also for phones and cars – all options with a good variety of products made locally and/or made by local brands. When it comes to alcoholic drinks, fewer Indians go by the origin label, perhaps reflecting a market segment with poorer home-grown choices and brands.

Origin countries that Indian consumers said would not have a positive effect on their purchase decision were Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Sweden. Consumers were somewhat divided on Chinese products with 58 percent attesting no positive influence.