NEHHDC and Thailand strengthen cultural and economic ties through historic visit and Joint Action Plan signing in Guwahati

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), hosted a high-level delegation from Thailand at its Craft Promotion and Experience Centre in Garchuk, Guwahati.

The visit marked a significant milestone in India–Thailand cooperation in the domain of handicrafts, handlooms, creative industries, and cultural exchange.

Led by Mr. Kiran Moongtin, Minister attached to the Department of South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the delegation comprised senior officials from the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), prominent Thai academic institutions, and representatives from tourism, wellness, and cultural promotion bodies, along with diplomats from the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi.

The delegation was warmly welcomed with a traditional Bihu performance, followed by an exhibition walkthrough of handloom and handicraft products created by artisans and weavers from the Northeast. The Managing Director of NEHHDC,

Mara Kocho (IES), presented the Corporation’s vision and strengths—including its OEKO-TEX certified Eri Silk Spinning Mill, NABL-accredited Textile Testing Lab, and expansive artisan network supported by government agencies such as DC Handloom, MSME, and NSIC.

The highlight of the visit was the proposal to sign a Joint Action Plan (JAP) between NEHHDC and the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), Thailand, which is expected to be formalized soon. The JAP outlines ten key pillars of collaboration, including knowledge and expertise exchange, joint product development and design innovation, artisan skill development and cultural residencies, participation in global exhibitions and festivals, sustainable practices and green certification frameworks, co-managed digital platforms and cross-border e-commerce, IPR protection and GI advocacy for traditional crafts and policy dialogues on creative economy cooperation.

As part of the programme, the delegation also toured NEHHDC’s state-of-the-art production and testing facilities including the Handloom Production Unit, Textile Testing Laboratory, Centre of Excellence, and the Artisan Museum.

The dignitaries from both nations emphasized the shared civilizational values, commitment to sustainable development, and the mutual aspiration to build an inclusive creative economy. This engagement sets the tone for a long-term partnership that bridges the cultural richness of Northeast India and Thailand.