South East Asian Connect 2022
This Programme is prepared with a focus on Asian countries. As the road through Guwahati opens up with the South East Asian countries, it is the right time to organize a Startup Summit where bilateral trade and commerce is exchanged between India and the South East Asian countries. All the Northeastern states share common boundaries with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar and are also indirectly connected with Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. There is a tremendous potential for business opportunities on both sides. The problem statements of the region will be showcased to the startup teams across the Asian countries, so that they can participate and present alternative solutions to the problem statements. For Example: The Garbage dump of Boragoan, Guwahati is a problem for the Deepar beel area and this is creating pollution in the neighbouring areas. Teams can provide solution to work on a model where the garbage are segregated and also keeps the environment safe and clean.
South East Asian Connect, 29th May 2022
The South East Asian Connect programme of the Northeast Startup Festival has been organized successfully on 29th May 2022 through an online platform. The programme had been prepared with a focus on collaborating the startup ecosystem of Northeast India with that of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the South East Asian countries. Mr. Pankaj Gogoi, President, Northeast Startup Festival 2022 had shared the vision as to create the bridge between the startup ecosystem with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the South East Asian countries.
He also shared the objectives of the programme how the collaboration between the startup mission can lead to collaboration, how the educational exchange programme among the universities can happen and then create sister city concepts in exchanging the best practices of the ecosystem.
Ms. Arundhati Bora, Sr. VP, Northeast Startup Festival moderated the session by setting the context to the programme theme of the webinar “understanding of the startup ecosystem of each of the countries and how each startup ecosystem will collaborate to take it to a global perspective.
The First Speaker of the Programme Ms. Kate Socatiyanurak , founder of MERANDI, Thailand spoke about her garment and bag industry and her startup has been working in the merchandise and luxury segments of products.
Mr. Pranjal Konwar, COO, Assam Startup shared about the startup ecosystem in Northeast India how it has been growing and how the changes have happened over the years and how government is taking steps to welcome the startups.
Mr. Haider Mohammad Chowdhury, Member, Asian India Business Council, HSMM Group of companies spoke about the startup ecosystem of Laos and invited as many startups from Northeast India to launch their startup in Laos and even other south east Asian countries.
Mr.Anshuman Saikia, President, Northeast India Association Thailand spoke about the overall ecosystem of the South East Asian countries and how Northeast India can work on collaboration with Thailand. The startup ecosystem in Thailand is effectively good enough for Northeast India startups to learn and collaborate.
Mr. Kok Tjun Chan, Cofounder for Springtide equity partners, Bangkok, who demonstrated the equity based investing in his venture and how his ventures are trying to invest in few of the startup companies and organisations.
Mr. Partha Gogoi, President, GAEF and Ms. Anjana Bordoloi, General Secretary, GAEF attended the programme from Washington DC and explained how the global platform is trying to develop the entrepreneurial space in the global perspective and shared that this platform will help a lot in developing the startup ecosystem.
Ms. Nikeeta Gautam, journalist on Startup Ecosystem, Nepal, shared the startup ecosystem in Nepal and what are the possible opportunities how it can collaborate with Northeast India.
Brigadier RK Singh, MD, NEHHDC , Guwahati , also shared the tremendous potential of the South East Asian connect and how it would be great to connect and discuss more in details.
Mr.Suresh Kumar Kandaswamy, edutech and skill startup from Kualalumpur, Malaysia joined and shared about this journey as an entrepreneur in KL and also shared the potential of these markets. Mr.Pranta Khoiram, Sr.Manager, Numaligarh Refinery Limited spoke about how NRL ideation has been able to support the startups in Northeast India and also working for the startup ecosystem.
