In a collective endeavour to bridge Northeast Bharat with
Vietnam, aligning with the Act East Policy vision of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, the 3rd edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF) is set to commence
at iconic September 23rd Park in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 from October 27
to 29.
Bharat’s Consul General Madan Mohan Sethi will host the
inaugural session of the grand initiative, which is a collaborative effort
between the Indian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the Ministry of External
Affairs and is under the leadership of event’s chief organiser Shyamkanu
Mahanta.
Sethi said, “Our connection to Northeast Bharat runs
deep. As a former Consul General in Myanmar, I had the privilege of
collaborating closely with various governments of Northeastern States,
particularly Manipur and Nagaland, forging a strong bond with the region.”
“I urge the esteemed media fraternity to spotlight
this momentous event. Such coverage will highlight the spirit of brotherhood
and economic development that this festival represents,” he continued.
Multiple and dedicated B2B meetings on Northeast as a hub
of tourism, investments, and bilateral trade will be held in presence of Ministry
of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Secretary Chanchal Kumar, tour
operators from North East India and their Vietnamese counterparts, India Tourism
Regional Director Anil Oraw, Invest India in charge Dr Geetima Das Krishna.
Besides, experienced investors will share their
insights during this session, with prominent entrepreneurs from the North East
and Vietnam in attendance.
Additionally, a People-to-People Exchange Meet will
offer a platform for scholars, academicians, and historians from North East
India to engage with their Vietnamese counterparts.
Northeast India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu
Mahanta praised the State Governments of the Northeastern region for “the
overwhelming support, despite some limitations due to upcoming Legislative Assembly
elections in some of the States”.
“The Northeast India Festival has successfully paved new
vistas in India’s relationship with Southeast Asia, thanks to the substantial
support from the Indian Government… A team of Vietnam airlines has recently
visited Assam to explore opportunities for direct air linkages between Guwahai
and Vietnam. If this dream turns into reality, it will change the dynamics of
tourism sector of Northeast India entirely,” stated Mahanta.
The NEIF will host various exhibitions, including the Incredible
India Exhibition, a dedicated Textile Zone and State-specific exhibition zones
representing various Northeastern States of Bharat, highlighting the Act East
Policy, tea industry, tourism, and more.
The entertainment lineup is set to feature a dazzling
array of cultural performances as well as spectacular fashion shows with
top-notch designers such as Sanghamitra Phukan, Bidyut-Rakesh, Manjushree
Saikia, Yana Ngoba, Hasina Kharbhih, Iba Mallai, among others.
The festival will be marked by electrifying
performances from Nagaland, represented by Task Force for Music and Arts,
including The Fantastic Company, Bright Lights, guitar prodigy Imnainla Jamir,
Trance Effect, KL Pamei, and Meghalaya’s popular band Summersalt.
Additionally, artists from Assam, including Baba, will
captivate the audience with their electrifying performances.
NE Watch Desk
