STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI: With active participation from thirty countries from South Asia, Africa, Israel, and BIMSTEC, a three-day international summit on Start-up Northeast will start from January 17 at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre here. In this connection a press conference was addressed by MSME Export Promotion Council (EPC) chairman Dr D S Rawat, vice president of Niger Liman Ali Mahamadou, Agriculture Minister of Somalia Ali Abdulla Isgoowe, Niger MP Abdu Magawata and former MP from Assam Bhubaneshwar Kalita. The focus of the summit will be on health, tourism, food and food processing, organic food, IT/ITES, infrastructure, horticulture, handicraft and handloom for start-ups. South Asian and African countries are keen to imports from and exports to the north-eastern region. The Chairman of the EPC said the council is working on early establishment of 38 border haats as decided by the government. Rawat said currently only four border haats are functioning and on an average and each haat is generating a business of Rs 4 crore per year. Kalita said the Northeast has the problem of unemployment and the thrust has to be on growth of micro, small and medium enterprises. Also Read: NRL inks MoU with IIT Guwahati for incubation of start-ups Also Watch: Watch Bhogali Bihu preparation from Guwahati ahead Uruka (Night before Magh Bihu)

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