Guwahati, February 25 (MExN): The much-anticipated Samriddhi Northeast 2026 – Entrepreneurs Summit, Buyer-Seller Meet and Exhibition commenced on February 25 at the NEHHDC campus in Garchuk, Guwahati, marking a significant step towards strengthening the entrepreneurial and artisan ecosystem of the Northeast.
The two-day event is being organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) in collaboration with TiDE and supported by the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC).
The summit 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 began with participant registration and networking, followed by the inaugural session outlining the objectives of Samriddhi Northeast 2026 — promoting sustainable enterprise development, strengthening market linkages and fostering long-term growth opportunities for businesses rooted in the region.
During a dedicated session, NEHHDC highlighted key initiatives related to enterprise development, incubation support and market linkages, underscoring its role in enabling artisans and entrepreneurs to scale from local markets to national and global platforms.
Pritam Dutta, Director of the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), delivered a special address emphasising structured capacity building, innovation and collaboration to strengthen the region’s enterprise ecosystem.
A panel discussion on the theme “Building Sustainable Enterprises in the Northeast: From Local Strengths to Scalable Markets” was a key highlight of the opening day.
The session was moderated by Anjan Chowdhury, NLP practitioner and founder of Skillfinity, and featured panelists including H K Baro, Regional Director, DC Handicrafts; Bhaskar Baruah, Export Promotion Officer, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH); Siddhartha Sankar Barua, Deputy Director, MSME-Development and Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Guwahati; and Mukesh Kandhol, Director of Partnerships, TiDE.
The panel deliberated on market access, branding, export readiness, institutional support and 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 Anjan Chowdhury, where participants were trained in effective communication, pitching and professional branding.
An Open Platform Brand Pitch session provided selected entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their products and business ideas before experts and mentors and receive feedback. The day concluded with an open discussion and enterprise clinics session, offering interactive question-and-answer engagements on finance, markets, branding and compliance, followed by a closing session outlining key takeaways and post-event support pathways.
A live enterprise exhibition is being held alongside the summit, featuring startups, MSMEs and artisan-led brands from across the Northeast. The exhibition, open from 10:30 am to 7 pm on both days, enables product showcasing, buyer interactions and networking opportunities.
The event has drawn participation from entrepreneurs, startups, artisan businesses, MSMEs, buyers, and institutional and financial stakeholders, reinforcing its role as a collaborative platform for regional enterprise development.
The second day will host a Buyer-Seller Meet to facilitate direct B2B and B2C engagements, product pitching and new market connections, aimed at strengthening commercial linkages for Northeast-based enterprises.
Through Samriddhi Northeast 2026, NEHHDC and its partners aim to build a resilient and sustainable business ecosystem that transforms local strengths into scalable opportunities while positioning the Northeast as a vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.
