Identifying opportunities

To enhance entrepreneurship in the North-East, CII launches its flagship event ‘The Enterprise Show 2005’

Till the recent past, North-East India had been out of the industrial and entrepreneurial landscape of    the country. The entrepreneurial wave which has been sweeping across the country during the last couple of years is not yet fully harnessed in this region. To enhance entrepreneurship, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) launched        its flagship event: The Enterprise Show 2005 for the first time in North-East. This unique show was an attempt to address the issues plaguing the growth and development of the region and brought manufacturers, technology, finance, training and other service providers all under one umbrella to forge alliances and partnerships.

The first Enterprise North East 2005 was inaugurated by Himanta Biswa Sharma, Minister of Finance, Planning and Development. In his address, the Minister lauded the efforts made by CII in bringing North-East closer to South East Asian countries. Last year, Indo-ASEAN car rally organized by CII brought Guwahati to the limelight and the possibilities of opening up the North-East to South East. Diplomats and officials from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam were again in the city during Enterprise North East 2005.

The show had more than 60 small and medium companies showcasing their products. They were drawn from all sectors from the seven North-Eastern states. The catalysis of industrial growth were represented in form of anchor stalls like NABARD, National Mission for Bamboo Application (NMBA), SBI, UCO Bank, SIDBI, Oil India Ltd., IIT, Central Institute of Policies and Engineering  and Technology (CIPET), Regional Research Lab, Rubber Board, Central Silk Board, NISC, etc. These institutions showcased a wide array of technology, product innovation, financial schemes, investment opportunities, etc.

The Enterprise North East had a two pronged approach. Local industries showcasing local strength and capabilities and service providers and facilitations in form of anchor stalls. Seminars, Buyer-seller meets and other presentations were organized during the meet.

The enterprise show of CII is mostly organized in non metro cities to highlight the entrepreneurial skills of the State and the region. This show was organized in the North-East for the first time and it could not have come at a better time. CII believes that the region is poised to grow on account rising crude oil crisis which is bound to create greater economic justification for more utilization of natural gas and petroleum resources of the region and make such efforts commercially more viable. Secondly, increasing importance with ASEAN countries and opening of border trade will have a direct impact on the economy of the North-East. Again, the most encouraging sign is the growing surge in entrepreneurship in the North-East.

The first Enterprise North East ’05 was an exclusive exposition of small and medium enterprises with special focus on bamboo, agro processing, industrial engineering, machinery and hydro technology. It addressed issues critical to economic development of the region and gave the trade and industry much needed edge to forge alliances and identify opportunities. The show can be called a great success as for giving effective push to the competitiveness of SSI sector. This event is just the beginning. CII believes that with each successive enterprise North East show, SSI and SME’s in the region will emerge stronger and more competitive. 

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