Popular Indian brands to have space in Guwahati’s Unity Mall

Guwahati: The first-of-its-kind Unity Mall project in Guwahati will bring popular Indian brands to its floor and promote local products within a distinct framework, managing director of Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (AIIDC) Chinmoy Prakash Phookan told Business-Northeast (BNE).

Unity Mall, a pan-India project, is a unique initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

In this year’s Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said states would be encouraged to establish a Unity Mall in their capitals, their most significant tourist destinations, or their financial capitals.

The FM did not specify what the mall would be, its physical or non-physical structure, or its purpose. The promotion and sale of the state’s own ODOPs (one district, one product), GI products, and other handicrafts, as well as providing space for such products of all other states will be the focus of the malls.

The Assam government has been designated as the nodal department, along with the Department of Commerce and Public Enterprises. Unity Mall in Guwahati will be located in the Maneram Dewan Trade Centre.

“The Unity Mall is a pioneering project in Guwahati, intended to house both popular Indian brands and products specific to each state, emphasising unity among diverse cultures and regions. It will be built at a cost of Rs 226 crore. This project is under the assistance of the Government of India,” Phookan told BNE.

“The Detailed Project Report, which we have submitted has been approved by the central government,” he added.
The mall will be a G+5 structure and the façade’s design intends to capture the warmth, tradition and culture of the state. The names of all the Indian states will be shown on the facets to advertise the ‘Ekta or Unity’ mall, which includes a specific showroom for each state.

Similarly, Assam and other northeastern states will also have showrooms where they can showcase and sell their goods.
Besides, the complex will have an auditorium, an amphitheatre, a convention centre, a crafts shop, a library, a children’s area and a museum, among others.

“We have an elevated level of confidence that we will finish it on schedule. This project has a 1.5-year timeline. However, the project may encounter some difficulties given the effects of the changing climate and other difficulties here. In keeping with the ‘Make in India’ program, we will also have a special floor for well-known Indian brands,” Phookan told BNE.

ALSO READ: NRL to accelerate investments in NE to foster economic growth:  MD Bhaskhar Jyoti Phukan