Shillong, Feb 3: Twenty-eight international buyers representing 16 countries are taking part in a two-day Reverse Buyer–Seller Meet (RBSM), which began in Shillong today that aims to strengthen export opportunities and improve global market access for MSMEs from Meghalaya.
Commerce and Industries Commissioner & Secretary Sanjay Goyal highlighted that nearly 45 per cent of India’s exports come from MSMEs, and stated that while Meghalaya currently lags in contribution, the sector presents strong growth potential.
He noted that the RBSM aims to create direct market linkages, with participation from 300 MSME representatives—nearly 200 active sellers—and stressed the importance of improving quality standards, packaging, regulatory compliance, and export readiness.
A representative of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), Neha Mehra, highlighted the importance of the RBSM in integrating MSMEs into global value chains and strengthening export readiness.
Referring to the Export Preparedness Index published by NITI Aayog, she noted Meghalaya’s improvement to 27th position, and reaffirmed FIEO’s commitment to working with the State government through capacity-building and export awareness programmes.
The programme is being organised by the Department of Commerce and Industries in association with FIEO under the Raising & Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma who attended the inaugural session emphasised that initiatives such as the RBSM must lead to tangible outcomes. He underlined the importance of sustained effort and consistency.
On global trade, the Chief Minister noted that uncertainty also presents opportunities in sectors such as textiles, garments, handicrafts, leather, footwear, and pharmaceuticals. He said Meghalaya has undertaken significant reforms to support the ecosystem, including removing over 400 regulations, nearly 70 of them in the labour sector, and introducing a unified investor portal for seamless clearances.
The Chief Minister also launched the MeghaRise logo and brand and the state-level MSME portal to strengthen branding, improve visibility, and facilitate access to digital services for entrepreneurs across the State.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the meet is “fundamentally different from conventional exhibitions or trade fairs,” as it is designed as a buyer-oriented platform focused on structured business-to-business engagement.
Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed said the platform enabled direct interaction between local entrepreneurs and buyers from sixteen countries. He highlighted that Meghalaya operates largely in premium and niche segments, with a focus on quality rather than volume, and noted that production processes are largely organic and sustainable.
