GUWAHATI, Oct 25 � A 16-member delegation including women entrepreneurs of micro and small-scale industries in the multi-product sector from all over Assam participated in an international trade and industry meet at Vienna of Austria and Budapest in Hungary recently under the initiative of North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA), Assam with support from the Union Ministry of MSME.
The Indian Embassy in Austria arranged business-to-business meets for the delegation with big industrial groups in Vienna. �M/s Demmerse Techans showed interest in importing handmade organic tea produced by small tea planters in upper Assam. Another group, M/s Herbert Komalka sounded upbeat about importing handicraft stainless steel traditional items from Jorhat,� Sailen Baruah, State president, NESSIA said.
Efforts have been made to explore an international market for the traditional muga and endi fabrics of the State. Kumud Medhi of NESSIA representing the textile sector emphasized on phase-wise replacement of synthetic-made woolen fabrics by eco-friendly natural products of Assam in Austria.
In the business meet with the Hungarian Industry Association of Craftsmen, Budapest, Baruah stressed on signing an MoU between NESSIA and the Hungarian association. A token order for initial supply of handicrafts products worth Rs 25 lakh has been placed on NESSIA by a Hungarian industrial unit.
The business talks centred on possible tie-ups, franchisee and investment by Hungarian industries in Assam on mini power project, food processing and wine from locally resource fruits, etc.
Earlier, the delegation led by Baruah called on Dinsha J Patel, Union Minister for MSME (Independent) at New Delhi on way to attend the international meet in the European countries. Baruah apprised Patel that this was the first such delegation of its kind from Assam to take part in an international event which included a number of first generation MSE entrepreneurs.
Baruah called for special attention of the Ministry for providing better exposure to the entrepreneurs of the North-East so as to effect a change in their mindset.
l Pranjal Baruah, chief executive of Mushroom Development Foundation and Ashoka Fellow, will speak on �Mushroom for health and prosperity � great scope for Assam & North East� at the Rotary Multi-Service Centre at 6 pm.
l Executive committee meeting of Government Pensioners� Association, Assam at Lakhiram Saralabala Das Auditorium, Chandmari at 10.30 am.
