The highly anticipated 3rd edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF) is set to kick off on Oct 27- 29 at the iconic September 23rd Park, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

This three-day event has a lineup of events featuring an inaugural programme and dinner on the first day, followed by two days of cultural shows, exhibitions, and B2B meetings.

The Festival insights

Madan Mohan Sethi, consul general of India in Ho Chi Minh City, said, “Our connection to Northeast India runs deep. As a former Consul General in Myanmar, I had the privilege of collaborating closely with various northeastern governments, particularly Manipur and Nagaland, forging a strong bond with the region. It brings us immense joy to play an important role in organising this 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 Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of the event.”

Sethi further adds that the festival constitutes a diverse array of activities, including trade, tourism, and academic sessions that will facilitate business and academic linkages between India and Vietnam.

Talks of Business as well

Under the chairmanship of Chanchal Kumar, IAS, Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), a dedicated B2B meet on tourism has been organised.

This session will facilitate interactions between tour operators from North East India and their Vietnamese counterparts.

Followed by the chairmanship of Dr Geetima Das Krishna, in charge of Invest India in the NER, a B2B Meet on trade will be held, showcasing the North East as an attractive destination for investments, tourism, and bilateral trade.

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.

Shyamkanu Mahanta, Chief organiser of the North-East India Festival said, “The overwhelming support from the state governments of Northeastern region, despite some limitations due to upcoming legislative assembly elections in some of the states, highlights their immense support for hosting India’s biggest event in Southeast Asia. A team of Vietnam airlines, has recently visited Assam to explore opportunities for direct air linkages between Guwahati and Vietnam, if turns into reality will change the dynamics of tourism sector of North East India entirely.”

Entertainment headliners

The event’s entertainment lineup will feature cultural performances, including folk dances from North East India, as well as fashion shows with many top designers. The event will be further enriched by the performances of top musical bands and artists from both India and Vietnam, as well as the delightful cuisines of North East India.

The festival will be marked by performances from the state of Nagaland, represented by TaFMA (Task Force for Music and Arts), including The Fantastic Company (TFS), Bright Lights, the guitar prodigy Imnainla Jamir, Trance Effect, KL Pamei, and the popular band from Meghalaya, Summersalt.

Additionally, artists from Assam, including Baba, will also perform.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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