Stakeholders Meeting was organised by NEHHDC

A first-of-its-kind, Stakeholders Meeting was organised by North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) on the 25th of May, 2023 at NEHHDC's CPEC, Garchuk premises . The meeting was focussed towards the development of the handicrafts sector of the region, explore possibilities for scaling up, primarily focussing on export promotion of the arts and crafts of the North Eastern Region of India. 

The main aim for this Stakeholders meet was
●    to discuss the pertaining issues that hinders the entrepreneurs from the North East from exporting their products
●    to explore possible roadmaps for promoting the handicraft sector
●    to work towards performing NEHHDC's role as an apex body to uplift the entrepreneurial ecosystem of North East India through collaboration with various stakeholders

The meeting was graced by representatives from eminent organisations including the CMD of NEDFi, Director of Weavers Service Centre, Director of NIFT, Shillong, representatives from the office of the DC Handicrafts, UNDP and EPCH. Further, stalwart from the sector, Ms Jesmina Zeliang, was also present, thereby adding to the grandiose of the event. 

The selected invitees highlighted the issues and challenges being continuously faced in this sector. The lack of capacity of entrepreneurs to take up bulk orders, proper market access, issues in logistics and transportation, lack of proper packaging solutions and technology intervention, absence of a warehouse to store their products, unavailability of raw materials etc. are to name a few. The meeting proceeded with a series of interesting discussions for possible roadmaps and finding a way ahead for the Handicrafts sector of the North Eastern Region. 

The meeting ended with a high note with plans being made for the next meeting, to be held in collaboration with NEDFi.