Singapore is set to host the North East India Festival (NEIF) for the first time later this month, an event aimed at linking the region’s cultural richness and trade potential with the wider ASEAN community.
The three-day showcase, scheduled from 19 to 21 September at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre, will mark both the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations and the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism. The festival will feature cultural performances, trade and tourism exhibitions, and business dialogues, according to the organisers.
Launched under India’s Act East Policy, NEIF has previously been staged in Bangkok (2019, 2022) and Ho Chi Minh City (2023), drawing significant regional attention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during his 2019 Bangkok town hall, described the festival as part of India’s effort to connect South East Asia through the North East.
This year’s edition will see participation from the Indian High Commission, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the governments of the northeastern states, with organisational support from Trend MMS, Assam Association Singapore, and the North East India Association, Singapore.
The opening ceremony will bring together Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, and ministers from Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim. Top Singaporean government officials, ASEAN embassies, and industry leaders are also expected. An investor roundtable will precede the formal inauguration, offering entrepreneurs from the Northeast an opportunity to meet Singaporean business leaders.
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“The North East India Festival offers a space where cultures interact, commerce thrives, and new ideas build traction,” Chief Organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta said. “Through this festival, our goal is to give entrepreneurs, artists, and tourism promoters a platform that connects them directly with global audiences.”
The main exhibition, to be held from 20 to 21 September, will host 60 stalls showcasing GI-certified teas, coffees, spices, textiles, handicrafts, organic produce, and distinctive agricultural products. Tourism pavilions will highlight marquee events such as the Hornbill Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, and Tawang Festival, alongside adventure circuits.
Evenings will feature performances by 150 folk dancers from across the region, as well as contemporary music from popular acts such as Zubeen Garg, Borkung Hrangkhal, Seyie Chuzo and Meghalaya’s noted bands. Fashion shows will present designs from leading northeastern creators, with silk and handloom taking centre stage.
Organisers said more than 400 people from India are travelling to Singapore for what is being described as India’s largest-ever cultural and trade initiative in the island nation. Entry to the festival will remain free.
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