A mega buyer-seller meet was organized in Guwahati under the One District One Product initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and its PSUs, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) and North East Regional Agriculture Marketing Corporation (NERAMC).
The meeting centred on agricultural products from the eight states of the North Eastern Region, and it was attended by a number of national and international brands.
At the Guwahati meet, over 70 sellers, traders, farmers, and aggregators from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim showcased their products to buyers. Products included Meghalaya's world-famous Lakadong Turmeric, which contains more than 7% curcumin, Sikkim's GI Tagged Large Cardamom and Tripura's Queen Pineapple, Orthodox Assam Tea, Manipur's Black Chakhao Rice, and others.
These products have been shown to over 30 large buyers, including Reliance and ITC, as well as upcoming start-ups in India.
Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, delivered the keynote address at the event, which was attended by officials and subject matter experts from the various state governments' Agricultural and Horticultural Departments. B. Ramanjaneyulu, Director of DPIIT, Manoj Kumar Das, Managing Director of NERAMAC, and Brig R K Singh, Managing Director of NEHHDC were also in attendance.
NERAMAC, an organisation established to assist farmers and producers in the North Eastern Region, has been working to bridge the gap between farmers and the larger market. As a result, it has played a critical role in the current Buyer-Seller Meet in collaboration with the ODOP Initiative. The best-in-class products from the region are being matched with big brands through collaborative efforts to increase farmers' earning potential.
Trade discussions were also held between buyers, sellers, and state government representatives from all eight NER states. During the event, Letters of Intent (LOI) worth Rs. 6 crores were also signed.
The preceding is a direct result of Aatmanirbhar Bharat's vision (Self Reliant India). DPIIT, through its One District One Product initiative, is working to ensure the creation and maintenance of such linkages, with a strong emphasis on increasing farmer income.
The ODOP Initiative seeks to select, brand, and promote one product from each district of the country, with over 700 products spanning sectors such as agriculture, textiles, handicrafts, and manufacturing. This is distinguished by a key role in coordinating, establishing collaborative networks, and facilitating buyer-seller handholding for the larger goal of trade promotion and facilitation.
