The three-day food exhibition, ‘The North East Food Show’ kick-started today at the Polo Grounds here.
The first of its kind mega-event will showcase specially curated food and beverage products from the eight states of the Northeast along with national and international food companies and brands and will conclude on May 7.
Meghalaya in collaboration with SIAL, world’s No. 1 Food Innovation Network had organised the first event in the State in 2019 and this is the second edition of the exhibition, where buyers and sellers from different parts of the region and South East Asian nations are participating.
The event comprised of exhibition areas that displayed semi-processed and processed food products, exotic and organic food, Ingredients, recipes from the region, a pavilion on wine and spirits and a special showcase of the well-known Lakadong Turmeric that were displayed at the event.
Interactive fun activities such as master-class and food tasting on wine and beverages were also held. The programme also saw buyer-seller meet where various buyers and sellers from the country and abroad attended the event with the purpose of sourcing new products, meeting with suppliers and developing new business.
Padma Shri Trinity Saioo expressed her gratitude towards the government for organising the show. She said the show will help her in reaching out to more buyers at large.
This year’s North East Food Show stall that attracted several people was Lakadong with thatched roof and a makeshift hut was made. Farmers of Lakadong were all ready to act out and present to the buyers and spectators how the turmeric is made from scratch.
Saioo said that in 2019 it was a small stall but this year with the huge setup all the farmers under Mission Lakadong are working together to showcase the brand.
While a homemade wine owner of Nes-Ki Wines, Iakibashisha Lyngdoh said that it is good platform to showcase their products but the problem is that a lot of people are coming from outside, as they are introduced to their product they want to purchase but are not able to do that because homemade wines in Meghalaya are not licensed as yet.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated the event.
Sangma said the event is not only a food show but a platform where entrepreneurs, farmers, cooperative societies and Self Help Groups can grow exponentially. “This show is a culmination of all the activities and processes in farming, production, packaging and entrepreneurship so that value is added to the final product to be able to compete with the best in the world,” he said.
He also informed that it is a North East show because the international market looks at variety and scale which Meghalaya alone might not be able to produce for a buyer. “We are trying to expand and reach out to the South East Asian countries as well,” the Chief Minister said.
Terming Vietnam as ‘shining example’ in the food processing sector globally, Chief Minister said that the Northeast as a region together can become a global platform and work together to market the products.
Tamang said that the event will go a long way in promoting the agri-horti products of Northeast. “Northeast is blessed with rich agro diversity. Through this show, different States of the region will be able to share their agriculture experience and collaborate for the progress of our great nation,” he said.
The inauguration function was also attended by Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ram Prasad Subedi, Charge d’Affaire, Embassy of Nepal in India, First Secretary to Embassy of Japan in India, Ikko Watenabe, Minister, Government of Sikkim, Bidu Singh Panth, Chief Secretary, Meghalaya, R V Suchiang, diplomats and leaders from Chile, Poland, Austria, United Kingdom and European Union, officials from Government of India and other states, SIAL, Exhibitors, Entrepreneurs and buyers.
