Leveraging branding, innovation and market access to transform the Northeast’s indigenous products into globally competitive enterprises.
Calling for the Northeast to build globally recognised brands rooted in its indigenous heritage, Gambegre MLA Dr. Mehtab Chandee A Sangma on Friday urged producers, artisans and entrepreneurs to move beyond local markets by combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, innovative design and quality standards. Inaugurating the National Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Exhibition on Indigenous and Heritage Products of North East India at the College of Community Science, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Tura, Meghalaya, Sangma said the region’s unique Geographical Indication (GI) products possess immense potential to emerge as global brands if supported by stronger market linkages, positioning the Northeast as a key partner in sustainable, inclusive and innovation-driven economic growth.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Sangma said, “Today, I would like to tell you all that we have to look beyond the local market. Must create Brands, Which are recognize globally from the Northeast by combining our traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, design, but at the same time, we have to ensure that they are of quality products.”
He added, “We have various geographical Indication products, which are unique to the region, and they have immense potential if supported by strong Market linkages. To all the buyers Investors present here today, I invite you to look at Northeast not only as a sourcing destination, But as a partner in sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Highlighting the wider significance of indigenous enterprises, Sangma said, “Investing in indigenous Enterprise means investing in the preservation of Biodiversity, Cultural reservation, and women’s empowerment and prosperity.”
Urging stronger collaboration between institutions and industry, he said, “I hence encourage all stakeholders present here today the universities, the producers, the investors to create an ecosystem that nurtures not only Innovation, but facilitate market access and ensures fair return to the producers.”
Referring to the country’s long-term development vision, Sangma said, “Our country has the vision of Vikisit bharat by 2047. The north east should also move along the same lines, And our strength today lies in our diversity, Our natural resources, and above all, are resilient people by transforming our heritage into enterprise we can create models of development that is not only economically vibrant, but sustainable and socially inclusive.”
Expressing confidence in the outcome of the initiative, he said, “I’m confident that this buyer sellers meat will open new avenues of collaboration and generate meaningful business partnership and Inspire many success stories from across the Northeast.”
Dean of the College of Community Science, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Tura, Dr. Jyoti V. Vastrad said the buyer-seller meet was conceived to bridge the gap between the Northeast’s rich indigenous production base and market access by bringing artisans, startups, entrepreneurs, investors, buyers and other stakeholders onto a common platform.
She said, “There is lot of indigenous products in the North East, there is a lot of production also, but somehow it is not reaching the markets, and I am seeing a lot of efforts being made by various governments in the Northeast for selling the products by having some exhibition, so we thought we will have a Buyer and seller meet where where we are providing a platform for the single platform for the experts for the artisans, for the startups and entrepreneurs and Investors, buyers, other stakeholders, giving them platform to interact and then see how best we can help the Artisans to uplift their livelihoods.”
Providing details of the event, Vastrad said, “All the eight states are participating, and till today it’s 178 who have registered the Artisans only and we have 72 stalls here in the state convention Center, and there are 15 live demonstration units also.”
The exhibition has brought together participants from all eight Northeastern States to showcase indigenous and heritage products while facilitating direct engagement between producers, buyers and investors. Among those present were Satinder Kumar Bhalla, ITS, Secretary, North Eastern Council; Prof. Dipjyoti Rajkhowa, Vice Chancellor, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat; Dr. K. M. Bujar Baruah, former Vice Chancellor, Assam Agricultural University; and Ankur Jain, Deputy Inspector General of Police (AP), Assam. The programme was presided over by Prof. Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (Imphal).
