Imphal: Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, graced the inaugural session of the Manipur Global Buyers and Sellers Summit 2025 held at the City Convention Centre, here on Friday.
The two-day Summit, organised under the theme ‘Bridging Business Sans Borders,’ is a part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India.
The event is jointly organised by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce & Industries; Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (MANIDCO) and Manipur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI).
The governor visited the various stalls set up as part of the summit by local entrepreneurs and industries, showcasing Manipur’s diverse range of indigenous products and innovations.
The event witnessed participation from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Thailand, as well as representatives from Japan and several North Eastern states of India, along with local entrepreneurs and businesses, highlighting Manipur’s growing potential as a hub for regional and international trade.
Manipur represents a unique blend of natural abundance, creativity and resilience, a dream come true for anyone seeking diverse opportunities. From the lush hills to the fertile valleys, the state offers distinctive products such as black rice (Chak-Hao), organic produce, handloom and handicrafts, each enriched by the ingenuity of its people, Bhalla said.
He highlighted Manipur’s abundant human resource, skilled, adaptable and enterprising, and noted the growing strength of the state’s IT and service sectors, which are contributing significantly to employment generation and innovation.
The governor observed that despite recent challenges, communities across Manipur, including those once displaced, have shown remarkable resilience, re-engaging in economic activity and creating value-driven products that are now reaching both national and international markets.
Emphasising the growing entrepreneurial spirit of the state, Bhalla described the summit as more than an event — a statement of confidence in Manipur’s potential as a strategic gateway for global trade in the Northeast.
He commended the concerted efforts of the Directorate of Trade, Commerce and Industries, MANIDCO, MCCI in partnership with national programmes such as the RAMP initiative of the Ministry of MSME, for strengthening women-led enterprises and promoting local entrepreneurship.
With improved logistics, expanding digital platforms, and proximity to Southeast Asia, he expressed optimism that Manipur is poised for rapid growth through global partnerships, sustainable production, and inclusive innovation.
Anurag Bajpai, additional chief secretary (Textiles, Commerce & Industries and Transport), and Dr. Basudev Singh, president, Manipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry also graced the occasion.
