Shillong, July 21: More than 100 artisans, entrepreneurs, buyers and investors from across the Northeast are expected to converge in Shillong this week for a national buyer-seller meet aimed at connecting the region’s indigenous products with larger domestic and export markets.
The Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, through its College of Community Science, Tura, will organise the National Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Exhibition on Indigenous and Heritage Products of Northeast India at the State Convention Centre on July 24 and 25.
Held under the theme “From Heritage to Enterprise: Empowering Women Artisans in Northeast India,” the event seeks to strengthen market access for women-led enterprises, self-help groups (SHGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs), startups and traditional artisans by facilitating direct interaction with retailers, exporters, investors and e-commerce platforms.
The exhibition will showcase a wide range of indigenous and Geographical Indication (GI) products from all eight northeastern states, including Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya, Adi Apong (rice wine) from Arunachal Pradesh, Dalle chilli from Sikkim and Chak Hao (black rice) from Manipur, alongside handloom textiles, handicrafts, bamboo and cane products, herbal products and traditional foods.
The programme will feature business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) meetings, networking sessions with national buyers and exporters, institutional procurement opportunities and investor interactions designed to help local enterprises scale up their businesses.
Technical sessions on branding, packaging, digital marketing, e-commerce, financial assistance, government schemes and sustainable production practices will also be organised to help entrepreneurs improve product quality and competitiveness.
Among the organisations expected to participate are PRIME Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, the Directorate of Food Processing, the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) and other institutions involved in entrepreneurship development.
