The event is an endeavour to showcase the strengths and potential of the region

The second edition of the North-East India Festival will begin in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday. The focus of the Festival will be on trade, investment and tourism promotion and exchanges in the field of culture, education and people-to-people connect, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

The event, being organised by the Embassy of India in association with the North Eastern states of India and Trend MMS, India, will be inaugurated by Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.

The first edition of the North-East India Festival was held in Bangkok in 2019. It opened substantial business opportunities for North-East Indian business community, especially in the tourism, agro and food processing sectors.

"In line with the Government of India’s emphasis on revitalising North East India, the Festival is an endeavour to showcase the strengths and potential of the region," the MEA said. The Festival assumes special significance this year as India and Thailand are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit and MoS Singh will be the Chief Guests at the Festival.

The Festival will also be attended by the Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Nagaland and the Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, alongwith other Ministers and senior Government officials from the North-Eastern states of India. Ministers and senior officials from various Ministries of the Kingdom of Thailand are also expected to attend the Festival.

A large contingent of artistes, craftsmen, business-persons & exhibitors, tour operators and academicians from the North-Eastern states of India will be travelling to Bangkok to participate in this Festival and hold B2B meetings as well as academic exchanges.

This Festival is expected to boost trade, connectivity, tourism, people to people connect, cultural integration between the North Eastern States and South East Asia.

According to information provided by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok last week, a sizeable delegation of artists, including musicians and dancers, artisans, businesspeople/exhibitors, tour operators, and academicians, are anticipated to travel to Bangkok to take part in this festival, have B2B meetings, and engage in academic exchanges.

The festival will also feature an exhibition of a wide range of goods produced by micro, small, and medium enterprises from the North-Eastern States of India in industries including agriculture, processed food, handicrafts, and light manufacturing.

A B2B meeting for the tourism industry and an academic seminar on the historical ties between South-east Asia and North-East India will be held as a component of intercultural interaction.

During the visit, the Minister of State for External Affairs will also meet with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and hold discussions to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries, the MEA said.