The Trade Development Council (TDC) firmly believes that ethical business practices are the cornerstone of sustainable industrial growth and national advancement. In line with this vision, TDC’s Task Force on Integrity and Transparency in Governance has developed a comprehensive yet practical Model Code of Conduct for Business Ethics.

This Code sets out core principles and guidelines to help businesses—particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—embed integrity into their daily operations. It encourages the adoption of clear policies and procedures that uphold transparency, accountability, and fairness in business conduct.

TDC views the voluntary adoption of this Model Code as a vital step toward nurturing a robust culture of ethics across India’s corporate landscape. To support this journey, TDC will also launch targeted programs and workshops designed to build member capabilities in areas such as compliance, governance, and ethical risk management.

Looking ahead, TDC plans to introduce a “Good Corporate Citizenship” Code—a more advanced framework for organizations aspiring to go beyond compliance and make structured contributions to India’s broader developmental priorities.

A key aspect of TDC’s ongoing work is to partner with government bodies to improve policy clarity, reduce discretionary decision-making, and minimize the scope for ethical dilemmas in regulatory processes.

TDC recognizes that each member organization is at a different point in this journey. Companies are encouraged to adopt the Code at their own pace, in alignment with their internal readiness and strategic priorities.

We invite all member companies to formally adopt the TDC Model Code of Conduct via the link provided below. As a step toward collective inspiration and transparency, the names of participating organizations will be featured on the TDC website, serving as role models for others in the ecosystem.