The Samriddhi Northeast 2026 – Entrepreneurs Summit commenced on Wednesday on the NEHHDC campus, Guwahati, marking a significant step towards strengthening the entrepreneurial and artisan ecosystem of Northeast India. Organized by Northeastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) in collaboration with Tide and supported by Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC), the two-day event aims to provide a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs and artisan-led enterprises to engage with buyers, policymakers, financial institutions and ecosystem partners. During the NEHHDC session, key initiatives for enterprise development, incubation support and market linkage were presented, highlighting the corporation’s role in enabling artisans and entrepreneurs to scale from local strengths to national and global markets.
A special address was delivered by Pritam Dutta, Director, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), who emphasized the importance of structured capacity building, innovation and collaboration for strengthening the region’s enterprise ecosystem. The highlight of the day was the panel discussion on the theme: “Building Sustainable Enterprises in the Northeast: From Local Strengths to Scalable Markets.” The session was moderated by Shri Anjan Chowdhury, NLP Practitioner and Founder of Skillfinity, and featured eminent panelists. The panel deliberated on market access, branding, export readiness, institutional support and the need for innovation-driven business models for artisans and MSMEs of the Northeast.
Post-lunch sessions included an Enterprise Enablement Session by TiDE focusing on digital finance, compliance readiness and formalization pathways for business growth. This was followed by an interactive workshop titled “The Art of Business Communication for Entrepreneurs”, facilitated by Shri Anjan Chowdhury, where participants were trained on effective communication, pitching and professional branding.
An Open Platform Brand Pitch session provided selected entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their products and business ideas directly before experts and mentors, receiving valuable feedback and guidance. The day concluded with an Open Discussion & Enterprise Clinics session, offering interactive Q&A on finance, markets, branding and compliance, followed by a closing session outlining key takeaways and post-event support pathways.
Running parallel to the summit is a live enterprise exhibition featuring startups, MSMEs and artisan-led brands from across Northeast India. The exhibition enables product showcasing, buyer interaction and networking opportunities. Samriddhi Northeast 2026 has drawn participation from entrepreneurs, startups, artisan businesses, MSMEs, buyers and institutional and financial stakeholders, reaffirming its role as a collaborative platform for regional enterprise development.
The second day of the event will host the Buyer-Seller Meet, facilitating direct B2B and B2C engagements, product pitching and new market connections, further strengthening commercial linkages for Northeast-based enterprises. Through Samriddhi Northeast 2026, NEHHDC and its partners continue to work towards building a resilient and sustainable business ecosystem that transforms local strengths into scalable opportunities and positions the Northeast as a vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.
