Guwahati: As many as 56 stalls have been set up by local entrepreneurs at the North Eastern Women Entrepreneurs Association (NEWEA) exhibition cum sale that started at the NEDFi convention center on December 21.
Anita Chetia, President of the Guwahati chapter of the NEWEA said that the exhibition will continue for four days. “We are so proud of the participants,” she shared with Business North East. “The products they brought to the exhibition for sale were mostly made by them.”
The NEWEA was founded on June 14, 1994, to promote local entrepreneurs and craftswomen from the region. “We have now entered our 28th year of existence. With this platform, we hope to be able to help women entrepreneurs become successful and self-sufficient so that they can bring glory to the state and country.”
Women from all states of the Northeast region are selling their items at this unique fair. From Assam, women from Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinisukia, Barpeta, Nalbari, and Bongaigaon are making their presence felt with quality wares. “We are happy that we could provide a platform for these women who are located in far-flung places of the Northeast and had no opportunity to display their skill and expertise”, Chetia told Business North East.
The participants are displaying products such as tea, jewellery, mekhala chadars, handmade products, dining table items, and candles, among others.
PVSLN Murty, the CMD of NEDFi, said that a lot of interesting handlooms, including sarees and mekhala chadars, are up for display at the exhibition. “The main challenge women face in the Northeast is that of marketing. Selling within the city and northeast is not enough – they can now promote themselves online to sell their items. Government online marketing platform ODOP is also a good option that they can leverage as it allows everybody to register and exhibit their products.”
NEWEA adviser to central committee Pranati Buraohain from Sibasagar recalled that in 1994, two entrepreneurs from Assam - Kiran Bora, and Usha Buragohain - made a rhinoceros using a newspaper. They were awarded for this by the government.
This episode kick-started a discussion on how women could be encouraged to become entrepreneurs as it was felt that Assam was lagging in terms of entrepreneurship. “Although we could count the number of women entrepreneurs on a single finger back then, it was understood that a lot could be done in establishing industries here, given the climate pattern”, Buragohain shared with Business North East.
Shortly afterward, the NEWEA was established at Gauri Sadan, the first-ever standalone private conference hall in Assam, in 1994. Former Governor of Assam, the late Loknath Mishra, and then Chief Minister of Assam Hiteshwar Saikia had a keen interest in promoting women entrepreneurs of Assam.
A central committee for women entrepreneurs was formed which soon started chapters in other districts of Assam and the other northeastern states. Their first exhibition was held in the Judge's field in 1996 and saw the participation of as many as 80 stall owners. “There has been no looking back for the NEWEA since then”, said Buragohain, adding that the central committee organizes such exhibitions every year.
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