North East Food Show begins in Shillong, to target SE Asian Markets

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The State Government has decided to make the ‘North East Food Show-2019’ an annual event so that it will be beneficial not only to the people of North East but the entire Southeast Asian region. “We are hopeful and targeting that this will be the biggest food festival in the South East Asian region,” said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma — in the presence of State Minister, Agriculture, Banteidor Lyngdoh — while inaugurating the maiden edition of the mega food fiesta at Polo Ground here on Wednesday.

Speaking during the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sangma urged all stakeholders in the food industry of the region to make the most of the three-day food fest. Pointing out that the North East region in general has a great potential, he hoped that the food festival would provide the right platform, organisation and network to farmers, entrepreneurs and all stakeholders in the food industry. He said, “North East has great potential. Though the farmers and entrepreneurs are doing so well but there is a missing link somewhere; and that is why it is important to have such a food festival on a common platform in North East,” he said.

He added that the food festival would bring together farmers, technology providers, entrepreneurs, buyers, chefs, hotels and all stakeholders in the food industry on a single massive platform. “The objective of the food festival is to provide exposure, connection and opportunities to the farmers and entrepreneurs of the North East,” he informed.

The ‘North East Food Show-2019’ is collaboration between the State Government of Meghalaya, the Inter Ads Exhibitions Pvt Ltd — the sole licensee of SIAL (Salon International de l’Agrolimentaire) group in India, the world’s largest food innovation network with over 50 years of global food innovation experience. The ‘North East Food Show-2019’ focuses on creating a global platform to ‘Inspire Food Business’ for this part of the country. It is also the curtain raiser to the ‘Charting of a new course through food processing and supply chain management’ for the North East entrepreneurs.

A series of conferences, workshop and demonstrations will be held which will culminate in the North East Chief Ministers’ Conclave on the last day in which key decision-and-policy makers from the Union and State governments along with key representatives from the industry will be present for deliberations.

The Chief Minister also virtually launched the Meg Tea Factory, Upper Shillong, the website of the Directorate of Food Processing and the Meghalaya Plastic Free Challenge Bags during the occasion.

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