With an aim to promote trade and commerce in the fields of energy, infrastructure, and technology in the Northeastern states, the North-East Small-Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) is organizing the first-ever North East Tech Expo Summit in Guwahati.

The Tech Expo is a business-to-business (B2B) exhibition envisioned and designed to create business opportunities in the aforementioned sectors. It is co-organized by DAS and DABRU, the Confederation of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (CIMSME), and Moving World, in association with the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) of the Government of India.

The Northeast is pivotal for India’s Act East Policy by which the Centre envisages promoting economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the vast Indo-Pacific region at different levels. On the other hand, India is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon nation by the year 2070.

As such, technological advances in the energy sector are the key to achieving both environmental and economic sustainability besides aiding reduction in carbon emissions.

“The NE has the potential to be amongst the sustainable as well as renewable energy leaders in the country by paving way for better GDP and large employment generation. The North East tech Expo Summit is organized to further strengthen the ongoing work in the sector by complementing the relevant policy development through the exhibition, dialogues, seminars, display of new advances, B2B networking, knowledge exchange, and facilitation of investment for the holistic prosperity of the region,” the organizers stated.

Companies associated with electric vehicles (both passenger and commercial), sustainable energy (solar, wind, hydro, and green energy), construction, hospitals, institutions, roadways, and other related infrastructure will be an integral part of the Expo.

The first-ever North East Tech Expo and Summit is focused mainly on two segments- EV North East and Energy North East. The electric mobility sector is a fast-growing industry delving into electric energy in order to reduce the usage of fossil fuels. The Expo will provide an opportunity to showcase and understand the latest models, technologies, and end products in the EV industry for a pollution-free environment. The Energy sector will emphasize the technological advances- both in the renewable and non-renewable segments.

The exhibitors will be showcasing their smart technologies that are strategically aligned to the National Action Plan on Climate Change, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, National Solar Mission, Skill India Mission, and the Smart Cities Mission of the Indian government.

Extensive dialogues are also to be held for working toward the Sustainable Development Goals which include SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 13 (Climate change) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).

Pranab Jyoti Patar, Environmentalist and CEO of Global Foundation, and advisor of the NE Expo told Business Northeast, "NE has an untapped potential in the renewable sector. Also, we must put additional thrust on the Centre's Act East Policy to create more opportunity and to capture it, be it at the institutional level or at the business level. Again the Centre has taken the goal to shift to 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030. The NE cannot just be a bystander but must play an active role in achieving these goals. The Northeastern states must contribute to its own growth as well as contribute to the country's GDP."

"In the Summit we will emphasise reaching a tangible outcome rather than just being regular discussions. Discussions will be held on topics like 'Road to NetZero and NE India, Investment opportunities in renewable as well as emerging alternative energy option including Hydrogen and Ethanol, Decarbonising the future and the relevance of Circular Economy, Commercial and Industrial Energy Demand and green Energy Open Access', to name a few. We are hoping it will open opportunities for all and also produce a road map for the future that may help the government and policymakers", he added.

The North East Tech Expo and Summit will be held from 22nd to 24th September at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in Guwahati.

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