Guwahati, Dec 21 (KNN) The Assam Trade Promotion Organisation (ATPO) in collaboration with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and Assam industries, commerce and public enterprise department is organising an international winter exposition from December 23 to January 5, 2023.

As per reports, around 150 MSME units, 11 start-ups, besides representatives from the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), CFC (Common facility Centre, Assamese jewellery), NEDfi (North Eastern Development Finance Corporation), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET) are participating in the expo.

The primary aim of the expo is to provide local traders an opportunity to tap export opportunities. International representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan are also taking part in the expo.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and commerce, along with the exhibition industry, has been unprecedented. Many private parties have cancelled their regular fairs and some are still reluctant to organise fairs resulting in lack of trade opportunities for the local MSME units, business and entrepreneurial enterprises,” Assam commerce and industries minister Bimal Borah said while addressing media persons on Tuesday.

“Therefore, in an effort to minimise such adversities faced by businesses in Assam, the state industries department has now decided to organise a trade fair to showcase the products and services offered by the entrepreneurs of the state,” Borah said.

During the course of the event, few stalls on ethnic food will also be accommodated. The cultural evening by different artists of the state will also be a major attraction of the expo.

ATPO is planning to organise one fair which will be regional to accommodate participants from the North-eastern region, one international fair to tap the export opportunities while another fair will be organised exclusively for entrepreneurs from Assam.

“In sync with the ‘Act East Policy’ of the Centre, the Assam government has adopted several measures to woo investments, reduce compliance requirements, and amend archaic laws aimed at the holistic economic development of the state,” the industry minister said.

The expo will take place at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in Guwahati.  (KNN Bureau)