Sandeep Banerjee

Not very long ago, North-East India was desperately looking for a platform to enable MNCs, Indian corporate giants, local entrepreneurs as well as neighbouring countries to reach out directly to the customers. Then the door was flung open and Guwahati, the prime hub of the region, showed the way. In rapid time Guwahati has not only become a marketing centre of great significance in the whole of eastern India and the North-East, but with swanky malls, one of the best departmental stores and the best brand names up for grabs. Guwahati, today, is a shoppers’ paradise. The annual events like the IGTF and National Expo adds to its new happening image.

The sixth edition of the National Expo recently concluded in Guwahati. The expo brought together as many as 250 stalls vending goods, ranging from plasma TVs, computers, readymade garments, processed food, jewellery, furnishings and furniture, melamine products and a lot more. Pakistan, Bangladesh and China were the international participants this year.

Organisers of the event, Leo Advertising announced the Silpi Samman, an award given to prolific artist of the State. The selection committee included national award winning actor Molaya Goswami and IPS officer Hiren Nath, veteran Assamese film producer and director Abdul Majid and popular singer Manisha Hazarika. This year, the award was given to noted artist from the State, Mahendra Borthakur. The organizers have planned to increase the cash reward to one lakh from next year.

Besides getting together business houses, the expo became a fun event due to Quiz contests, drawing and dance competitions held for children. The music lovers got to hear fresh melodious voice of eight-year-old Angana Nath of Guwahati who even at her very early is an upcoming singer of Assam. Leo advertising has already released an album titled O Pokhili by this very talented child. She performed to a live audience of 20,000 plus people at the expo.

Like previous years, melamine products and Jamdani sarees were the main draw as far as Bangladesh participation in the Expo ’05 was concerned. As many as four leading Bangladesh melamine companies – Sharif, Diamond, Crown and Bangladesh Melamine’s had their products in this expo.

Such was the demand for these melamine products that many of these stalls had to close down before the schedule end of the fair due to complete sell out. Similarly melamine products and garments from Pakistan were great attraction for the crowd.

The Chinese section had chinaware, exquisite vases made of porcelain and murals crafted of high quality wood. The Jingderher group, which is the dynastic house of chinaware and intricate decorative materials in China, were the ones who brought these beautiful goods to the 5th National Expo in Guwahati. Some of the vases and murals carried price tags as high a Rs. 23,000 and Rs. 35,000, but still they sold. The ceramic paintings, the Chinese gods and even picture and paintings of the Communist Party of China got good response from the appreciative people of the North-East. The National Expo may have covered only a span of mere six years, but in significance, both as a promoter of business and trade as well as a harbinger of good relations and friendship, this annual show is now amongst the prime events of the region.

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