Guwahati, Assam | 25 Feb (WE THE NAGAS): The much-anticipated Samriddhi Northeast 2026 – Entrepreneurs Summit | Buyer-Seller Meet | Exhibition commenced today at the NEHHDC Campus, Garchuk, Guwahati, marking a significant step towards strengthening the entrepreneurial and artisan ecosystem of Northeast India.
Organised by North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC)
in collaboration with TiDE and supported by Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC), the two-day
event aims to provide a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs and artisan-led
enterprises to engage with buyers, policymakers, financial institutions and ecosystem partners.
The event opened with participant registration and networking, followed by the inaugural session
and introductory remarks outlining the objectives of Samriddhi Northeast 2026 — to promote
sustainable enterprise development, strengthen market linkages and foster long-term growth
opportunities for businesses rooted in the Northeast.
During the NEHHDC session, key initiatives for enterprise development, incubation support and
market linkage were presented, highlighting the Corporation’s role in enabling artisans and
entrepreneurs to scale from local strengths to national and global markets.
A special address was delivered by Shri Pritam Dutta, Director, Indian Institute of
Entrepreneurship (IIE), who emphasized the importance of structured capacity building,
innovation and collaboration for strengthening the region’s enterprise ecosystem.
The highlight of the day was the panel discussion on the theme:
“Building Sustainable Enterprises in the Northeast: From Local Strengths to Scalable
Markets.”
The session was moderated by Shri Anjan Chowdhury, NLP Practitioner and Founder of
Skillfinity, and featured eminent panelists:
- Shri H.K. Baro, Regional Director, DC Handicrafts
- Shri Bhaskar Baruah, Export Promotion Officer, EPCH
- Shri Siddhartha Sankar Barua, Deputy Director, MSME-DFO Guwahati
- Shri Mukesh Kandhol, Director of Partnerships, TiDE
The panel deliberated on market access, branding, export readiness, institutional support and
the need for innovation-driven business models for artisans and MSMEs of the Northeast.
Post-lunch sessions included an Enterprise Enablement Session by TiDE focusing on digital
finance, compliance readiness and formalisation pathways for business growth. This was
followed by an interactive workshop titled “The Art of Business Communication for
Entrepreneurs”, facilitated by Shri Anjan Chowdhury, where participants were trained on
effective communication, pitching and professional branding.
An Open Platform Brand Pitch session provided selected entrepreneurs an opportunity to present
their products and business ideas directly before experts and mentors, receiving valuable
feedback and guidance. The day concluded with an Open Discussion & Enterprise Clinics
session, offering interactive Q&A on finance, markets, branding and compliance, followed by a
closing session outlining key takeaways and post-event support pathways.
Running parallel to the summit is a live enterprise exhibition featuring startups, MSMEs and
artisan-led brands from across Northeast India. The exhibition enables product showcasing,
buyer interaction and networking opportunities, and will remain open from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM
across both days.
Samriddhi Northeast 2026 has drawn participation from entrepreneurs, startups, artisan
businesses, MSMEs, buyers and institutional and financial stakeholders, reaffirming its role as a
collaborative platform for regional enterprise development.
The second day of the event will host the Buyer-Seller Meet, facilitating direct B2B and B2C
engagements, product pitching and new market connections, further strengthening commercial
linkages for Northeast-based enterprises.
Through Samriddhi Northeast 2026, NEHHDC and its partners continue to work towards building
a resilient and sustainable business ecosystem that transforms local strengths into scalable
opportunities and positions the Northeast as a vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.