New Delhi (NVI): In line with the Government’s ’Look East’ policy and for strengthening trade ties with ASEAN and BIMSTEC nations, the All India Women’s Education Fund Association (AIWEFA) organized a curtain raiser ceremony “North East Expo, 2019” on 16th October to provide platform for entrepreneurs from the Northeast region to open up trade and commerce through Tea Diplomacy and Khadi Diplomacy.
Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh while presiding over the event said that Khadi is a symbol of women’s empowerment as most of the spinners, weavers and handicraft artisans in the northeast are women. It is important to bring Khadi to the mainstream as it will help weavers, especially women, continue to create more jobs.
“In last five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited North East over 30 times, which shows the kind of importance this government attaches with the states of the North East,” he said.
He also informed how ‘Start up India, Stand up India’ programme has led to young entrepreneurs in the North East starting their ventures by utilising the human and material resources in these states.
“The day is not far when the North East would become the start up hub of the country”, he added.
During this event ‘Khadi Goes Global’ campaign has also been initiated to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, 100 years of his association with Khadi and 91 years of AIWEFA’s service to women and communities
Talking about making ‘Khadi Go Global’, Dr. Singh put forward the vision of using latest technology in boosting the production of khadi and making it competitive globally. This would also help in generating immense employment opportunities in this sector.
The aim of the Expo to held on 2nd-3rd November is to bring together all the eight states of northeast India and create a platform with the North East Handloom, Handicrafts and the Farm Sector.
At the expo, AIWEFA will also introduce two awards—The Prime Minister’s Award for Master Weaver and the other for the Master Crafts person for the year 2018–19.
(sb/rb)
