The 3rd edition of the North East India Festival held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has opened new doors for tourism, investment, and people-to-people connectivity between North East India and various Southeast Asian nations. This festival, featuring a rich blend of cultural, fashion, and musical showcases, exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs, has been warmly received by the local community in Vietnam. Here’s a glimpse of this vibrant event that’s fostering stronger ties between the two regions.
Fostering Connectivity and Collaboration
The North East India Festival in Vietnam kicked off on October 27, 2023, and is set to span three days. On its second day, the festival facilitated several key activities:
- B2B Meetings: Around 70 tour operators from Vietnam engaged in meetings focused on tourism, exploring potential collaborations.
- Trade and Investment: Over 100 entrepreneurs from Vietnam convened for discussions on trade and investment opportunities.
- People to People Exchange: Prominent Vietnamese Universities hosted meetings with stakeholders from the North Eastern Region of India.
A Cultural Extravaganza
The festival promises a diverse range of experiences. Today, attendees can look forward to cultural shows, fashion presentations, musical performances, exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs at September Park in Ho Chi Minh City. These events serve as a bridge to showcase the rich cultural heritage and creativity of North East India.
Notable figures, including 15 top Provincial leaders of Vietnam, government officials, and industrialists, were present during the festival’s inaugural ceremony, underlining the significance of this cultural exchange.
Strengthening Diplomacy
Shyamkanu Mahanta, Chief Organizer of the North East India Festival, highlighted how the event aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy, creating new horizons for international relations.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, attending the festival, emphasized India’s aspiration to bring the world together under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. The Act East Policy, a cornerstone of this vision, aims to connect North Eastern India with Southeast Asia, fostering stronger economic, cultural, and academic ties.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The festival’s inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of dignitaries from both India and Vietnam, including:
- Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education.
- Tran Phuoc Anh, Director General of the Department of External Relations in Ho Chi Minh City, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam.
- Nguyen Long Bien, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan Province.
- Tourism Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
The North East India Festival in Vietnam serves as an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties between North East India and Southeast Asian countries, with Vietnam playing a pivotal role in this vibrant cultural and diplomatic exchange.
