SHILLONG: Over 300 entrepreneurs from Meghalaya showcased their products to 32 domestic and international buyers at the second edition of the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM 2.0), organised by the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Meghalaya, at the State Convention Centre in Shillong.
The two-day event, which began on Thursday and concluded on Friday, brought together Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from across the state to interact with buyers, understand market requirements and explore potential business partnerships through direct linkages.
Products ranging from spices, honey and wine to textiles, furniture and other locally manufactured goods were displayed at stalls representing all 12 districts of Meghalaya. The event also offered an opportunity to examine how government-supported initiatives help local entrepreneurs reach markets beyond the state.
Speaking to Ukhrul Times, J.W. & Co, a manufacturer and exporter of leather products said the meet provided an opportunity to introduce the company’s products to regional, national and international markets.
The company sources leather from Chennai, Kanpur and West Bengal, while the manufacturing process takes place in Shillong. Its products also include clothing made from leather for fashion shows. The company had also formerly received government support and expressed enthusiasm about connecting with interested buyers at the event.
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The owner of M/s Delicacies, a food processing company, highlighted the role of the initiative in helping local businesses explore opportunities beyond their existing markets.
Speaking to Ukhrul Times, she said buyers had different preferences, while officials from the District Commerce and Industries Centre (DCIC) helped entrepreneurs connect with visiting buyers.
She said the initiative had been particularly useful for businesses that primarily cater to local consumers and may lack the knowledge or resources to begin exporting their products.
“Right from paperwork to actually bringing the buyers to the state, DCIC has helped in every way they could,” she said, adding that the department also provides financial assistance through various schemes and training for individuals seeking to develop new skills.
She also mentioned that one of the most recent schemes availed by the company was the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprise (PMFME) which was used to upgrade the whole unit.
However, the experience was not the same for every participant. A businesswoman from the Garo Hills region who sells traditional Garo textiles said she had participated in both RBSM 2.0 and the first International Reverse Buyer Seller Meet but had yet to make any sales or secure customers through either initiative.
The buyers also had strict specific requirements regarding the products they were seeking, with the process involving documentation, product testing, high-quality standards and standardisation. These requirements stressed on the need for entrepreneurs to ensure their products met the necessary specifications.
Referring to the first International Reverse Buyer Seller Meet, held in February this year, deputy chief minister Dhar said the initiative had resulted in 40 business memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and generated business opportunities worth over Rs 3 crore. The event had attracted buyers from 15 countries across four continents, with enterprises from all 12 districts given an opportunity to showcase their products to international buyers.
