East Himalayan Trade Fair and Agri Expo begin with global, MSME focus in Guwahati
Guwahati,Rongili Barta: The 15th East Himalayan Trade Fair (EHTF) along with the 2nd East Himalayan Agri Expo (EHAE), organized by The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, was inaugurated on January 22 at the Assam Engineering Institute Playground in Chandmari, Guwahati.
The fair will be open to visitors daily from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm till January 28.
On January 22, the fair was officially inaugurated by chief guest Dr J B Ekka, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Industry and Commerce Department, Govt of Assam in presence of ITPO’s Executive Director Shri Premjit Lal, ITS and Lt. Col. Harsh Kondilya, OSD and GM of Fair Division of ITPO.
Along with several private companies, states like Haryana, and various other government organizations are bringing a variety and taste of rich cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and distinctive products of their respective regions. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is presenting a diverse range of rice varieties sourced from different states of India, highlighting regional diversity and food security initiatives. The Coconut Development Board is showcasing a wide spectrum of coconut-based products from Southern India, emphasizing value addition and agri-based entrepreneurship.
One of the most attractive features of this 15th edition of the fair is participation from Thailand and Afghanistan. Their variety of products is an added aspect which will be different for the people of Guwahati. These participants are expected to bring products such as Thai consumer and lifestyle goods and Afghani dry fruits, adding an international dimension to the fair and promoting cross-border trade engagement.
The event is actively supported by Govt of Assam represented by the presence of exclusive manufacturing units from MSME sector, women entrepreneurs covering a wide array of products of the state. The presence of Ministry of MSME through their DFO-Guwahati is another vital aspect of this fair. The strength of the MSME sector is rightly showcased in this event by the display of an extensive spectrum of items of the MSME units from different north eastern states.
The fair also features cultural performances by Central Bureau of Communications under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. CBC has arranged a variety of traditional art and dance forms of North East which have been always appreciated and enjoyed by all. Moreover, a multi-cuisine food court, and visitor engagement activities are being arranged, making it an attractive destination for families and the general public. This year the food court put up Assam SRLM is serving the special traditional cuisine of North East.