The flagging-off of the first consignment of anthurium from Aizawl to Singapore last month has triggered fresh hopes for the expansion of commercial floriculture in the Northeast region. The rise in demand for fresh flowers within the region has also opened new vistas of commercial floriculture marketing. Lack of adequate production within the region to cater to this demand has led to flower traders sourcing fresh flowers from outside the region, mostly from flower markets in Kolkata. The export consignment from Mizoram contained a total of 1,008 anthurium cut flowers packed in 50 corrugated boxes and was flown to Singapore via Kolkata. Direct air connectivity of the airports in the Northeast region with South and Southeast Asia can unlock more export potential for flower growers and distributors. The region having a suitable climatic condition for growing flowers enjoys a natural advantage in the floriculture business, but infrastructure bottlenecks continue to pose impediments in tapping the business potential. Preservation of fragrance and freshness from farm gate till delivery to end customers plays a crucial role in the floriculture business. Flower growers and traders in the region have affordable access to smart packaging solutions that enhance the shelf life of cut flowers. As flowers are a highly perishable commodity, growers adopting available scientific technologies for reducing post-harvest losses during handling, storage, and transportation is essential to increase profitability and commercial viability. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Mizoram, facilitated the export consignment of anthurium. According to an official release issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Mizoram, the consignment is one of the outcomes of the International Conclave-cum-Buyer Seller Meet organised by APEDA in collaboration with the Mizoram Government in December 2024 at Aizawl. The event was attended by nine international buyers from Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Jordan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ethiopia, and 24 domestic exporters. APEDA and state governments organising more such buyers-sellers’ meets in each state in the region is crucial to secure more orders from global and domestic buyers to sustain the momentum created by the export of anthurium from Mizoram. Under the component of “Integrated Post Harvest Management,” of the flagship Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), integrated supply chain projects will be supported by the integration of approved components and expand the scope of integrated pack houses by including components like automatic grading lines, cold rooms, and material handling equipment, etc., for a reduction in post-harvest losses and plugging the gaps in the supply chain. The revised MIDH operational guidelines 2025 provide for the central government’s assistance at the rate of 50% of the cost of area expansion of cut flowers (anthurium, orchids, etc.), bulbous and rhizomic flowers (gladiolus, lily, daisy, gerbera, tuberose, and saffron, etc.), and loose flowers (rose, chrysanthemum, tuberose, jasmine, crossandra, marigold, gailardia, lotus, neerium, hibiscus, barleria, etc.) subject to a maximum area of two hectares. Building awareness among flower growers to avail the scheme benefits must not be limited to mere dissemination of information but also backed by handholding support by the State Horticultural Mission in understanding the official procedure and complying with the required norms for timely disbursal of financial assistance. While the financial support and subsidy have attraction for growers to go through the formalities of availing the assistance, their investment decision to start growing flowers on a commercial scale or expand the existing area primarily depends on market access and remunerative prices. Adverse impact of the rise in temperature due to climate change also clouds the floriculture business in the region. The development of affordable cold chain infrastructure connecting clusters of flower cultivation in different states of the region to faster transportation to destination markets is a key determinant of the growth trajectory of the floriculture business in the region. Traditional knowledge of the lower growing of local farmers is useful, but for transforming the cultivation to a commercial scale with the capacity to cater to high-volume demand, it is essential to impart modern and scientific knowledge that has been developed through research to growers. Multiple surveys and studies have pointed out the potential and challenges in developing commercial floriculture in the region. Some of the challenges have been addressed while articulating flagship schemes in the horticulture sector. Often the policy discourses exclude the key stakeholders—the flower growers—from the consultation process, and policymakers do not have a comprehensive understanding of the ground realities, such as how the growers look at the challenges and solutions offered by experts, what their primary requirements are (production or market linkage, marketing support, infrastructure support, and access to formal credit without the hassles of collateral). For flower growers to be on board for commercial floriculture expansion in the region with export viability, boosting their confidence in the entire process right from planning to execution at every stage is important. Nevertheless, the anthurium export consignment from Mizoram is reflective of forward movement in commercial floriculture in the region, which must not be missed.