Guwahati, Sept 16, 2025: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), successfully hosted the 4th North East Export Promotional Meet at Novotel, Guwahati. The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, trade officials, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across India’s North East, alongside business delegations from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Welcoming participants, Shri Ishantor Sobhapandit, Regional Director – NER, ICC, highlighted the importance of such platforms in fostering dialogue and building trade linkages. “The ICC is proud to act as a bridge, connecting businesses and creating opportunities for the North East,” he said, stressing the strategic significance of the region as India’s gateway to Asia and the need to consistently document recommendations to ensure tangible outcomes.
The inaugural session was attended by prominent dignitaries including Shri A. Ajay Kumar, IFS, Joint Secretary (States Division), Ministry of External Affairs; Smti. Namgay Pelden, Vice Consul of Bhutan to Guwahati; H.E. Shri Zikrul Hasan Fahad, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh; Shri Satinder Kumar Bhalla, ITS, Secretary, North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER; and senior officials from the Government of Assam.
Shri A. Ajay Kumar reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening connectivity, trade facilitation, and market access for the North Eastern Region under the Act East Policy. He noted the State Division’s proactive role in working with state governments to internationalize their economic linkages and attract investments.
Representing DGFT, Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastava emphasized the importance of export promotion schemes, streamlined trade procedures, and connecting exporters with new global markets to integrate the North East more effectively into international value chains.
The event featured a Trade & Export Awareness Session with expert insights from the Land Port Authority of India, Department of Posts, DGFT, ECGC Limited, and cross-border chambers of commerce from Bangladesh and Nepal. Discussions focused on export facilitation, logistics, financing, and opportunities in regional and global markets.
The meet concluded with a highly productive Buyer–Seller Meet, where exporters from all eight North Eastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—interacted with international buyers from Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The B2B engagements generated promising prospects in agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, textiles, and allied sectors.
The fourth edition of the North East Export Promotional Meet further cemented ICC’s efforts to position the region as a vital trade corridor, strengthening regional integration and fostering cross-border business partnerships.
