Guwahati: India is home to a wide range of business groups and conglomerates that span various industries and sectors. With time, these business groups have picked up pace in promoting businesses in a particular region.

In the North East, Assam has witnessed the emergence of a variety of business networking groups that cater to different industries and professional backgrounds. From women-supported groups like Wommaniaas to organisations like Junior Chamber International (JCI) and Business Network International (BNI), FICCI, CII, NASSCOM and Rotary clubs, these groups cater to a wide spectrum of professionals.

There are over 10-15 groups of small or large scale in this state. Business networking groups provide a platform for government and private professionals to come together, share experiences and support each other in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Business-Northeast spoke to a few of the business networking groups in Guwahati. One such is Wommaniaas, a networking group of over 250 members. They charge a yearly amount of Rs 12,980.  “We are quite an active group and provide our members with daily promotions and extensive marketing. We also try to give them business leads within our members,” said Divya Siotia, founder of Wommaniaas. 

“We started with Mommies of Guwahati which is now a group of 32,000 people. There are no such criteria to become a Wommaniaas member,” she added.

JCI, a group focused on leadership and training on various business aspects and opportunities, has now 1,500 members. One should be 40-50 years of age to be a part of JCI, informed Bijay Agarwal, JCI founder.  

BNI (Guwahati Chapter) is another such mass networking group with 500 members. In its 5 years of its existense here, BNI created connections all over India and World, changing the way Guwahati does Business, creating job opportunities and giving new businesses & start ups a platform to take off. "We are aimed at creating more and more jobs and help each other to grow and prosper.  One needs to be a business professional to join BNI and we have a membership fees of Rs. 44189/- yearly, said Siddharth Garodia, BNI Executive Director (Guwahati Chapter).

Guwahati Management Association(GMA) one of the oldest groups in the city with over 300 members was established in 1970 and has a glorious past of nearly several decades propagating scientific management in the North East under the roof of All India management association (AIMA)- the apex management body of the country and now spreading its arms abroad to many countries.  “We take professionals from various business sector. To join GMA, there is a yearly fee of Rs 1,500 and another Rs 500 as the registration amount at the time of joining,” said Chiranjit Chaliha, GMA President. GMA from several decades, is the only regional body in the North East that’s helping regional Managers to make the most of new opportunities., except Silchar Management Association.

Networking is a crucial aspect of business growth. These groups often offer workshops, seminars, and training sessions to enhance members' skills and knowledge leading to partnerships, collaborations, and access to new markets and resources. This empowerment not only benefits individual business owners but also contributes to the overall economic development of the region.
The rise of business networking groups in Assam is a sign towards development that reflects the changing dynamics of entrepreneurship, gender inclusivity, and community collaboration.

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