North East India Festival 2023: Celebrating 60 Years of India-Singapore Ties with Cultural Showcase and Business Opportunities

Guwahati: The 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF), celebrating 60 years of India-Singapore diplomatic ties and the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism, will be held from Sept 19 to 21 at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore.

The event will spotlight the rich cultural heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, and tourism potential of India’s northeastern region.The opening ceremony will be attended by chief ministers Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh) and Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), along with ministers from Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Sikkim. Minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita will grace the closing session.Supported by the Indian High Commission, ministry of external affairs, and northeast state govts, NEIF will feature over 60 curated stalls showcasing GI-certified products, organic agri-horti goods, handicrafts, and Assam tea tastings.

A B2B meet and investors’ roundtable will connect Singapore’s leading industrialists with northeast Indian stakeholders.Cultural performances will include 150 folk dancers presenting the Lion Dance (Arunachal), Sattriya, Tiwa, Karbi (Assam), Manipuri, Hojagiri (Tripura), and Warrior dances (Nagaland). Evening attractions will feature a fashion showcase by top NER designers and musical acts by Zubeen Garg, Borkung Hrangkhal, Meba Ofilia, Seyie Chuzo, and others.

Chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta emphasised NEIF’s role in connecting northeast India with ASEAN markets. “Singapore offers a space where cultures interact, commerce thrives, and new ideas build traction. Through the North East India Festival, our goal is to give entrepreneurs, artists, and tourism promoters a platform that connects them directly with global audiences,” he said.