Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, February 05, 2009:
Kouna (water reed) products are not available anywhere in the country except in Manipur.
The mat, mattress and cushion made of Kouna have a high demand from the customers in the national capital for its comfortable to the users.
Kouna products have become a special attraction of the 6th North East Trade Expo 2009 currently held at National Small Scale Indus tries Corporation (NSIC) Exhibition Ground.
Okhla Industrial Estate here from January 27 to February 6. The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Development of the North East Region Govt of India in partnership with National Small Industries Corporation.
Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region inaugurated the exhibition on the first day and applauded the role of DONER and NSIC for creating new marketing opportunities for the manufacturers and artisans of North Eastern State to explore new avenues by way of finding distributors and customers for their products from other parts of the country.
More than 100 units are participating in North East Expo-2009.Twenty seven units from Manipur are taking part in the exhibition.
Ksh Santakumar Singh from the Directorate of Commerce and Industries, Goyt of Manipur who led the Manipur team said that the visitors attracted the Kouna products, dry flowers, agro based food items, handloom shawls, saris and chunis, toys and bamboo products of the Manipur Stalls.
The Expo provides ample opportunities for the industries, particularly in Handicrafts, Cane & Bamboo, Floriculture and Agro Processing etc.
During the exhibition period, daily cultural programmes dedicated to each state are also organized to showcase the cultural strength of each North Eastern State.
All the eight states of the North East Region are invited by the Ministry of DoNER to participate in the event Sources from the NSIC said that objectives of the Expo were to project business opportunities presented by the NE Region, facilitate tourist promotion and publicize the colorful spectrum of the culture of the region; to create new marketing opportunities for the manufacturers and artisans of North eastern States to explore new avenues by way of Tinding distributors and customers for their products from other parts of the country; to put across the strength and advantages of NE States by displaying their unique products to national and international clientele; and to showcase the strength of NE region in an exclusive manner that it richly deserved and translate into tangible and impressive economic development over a period of time.