HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 25: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) on Sunday successfully hosted the 3rd North East Retail Summit (NERS) 2025 in Guwahati, reaffirming its focus on strengthening the retail ecosystem in India’s North-Eastern states.
The event brought together retail professionals, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across the region to discuss challenges, explore opportunities, and foster collaboration within the sector.
According to an official statement, the summit served as a dynamic platform for strategic dialogue and innovation, aiming to unlock the vast retail potential of the seven North-Eastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
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Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, highlighted the unique retail landscape of the region, describing it as a promising yet logistically complex market.
“Consumers here are well-informed, multilingual, and open to global trends, making this a vibrant market. While infrastructure and political factors pose challenges, the region presents significant opportunities for employment generation and retail expansion,” he said.
The summit featured a diverse line-up of expert speakers who addressed a range of topics, including “Marketing That Works: Tools, Tactics, and Trust,” “Business Strategy to Drive Real Outcomes,” and “Local and Thriving – What Retail in the Northeast Looks Like Today.”
Prominent regional retail leaders in attendance included Vikram Bothra (Chandan Retail/Askaran Binjraj), Kunal Mordani (Tanishkaa Retails), Raja Gohain (MG Solutions/Times Square), Manish Jain (Gangwal Furniture), Subhash Soni (Manik Chand Nand Kishore Jewellers), and Gaurav Sureka (Maa Kamakhya Retails, Shop N Save).
Vikram Bothra, Chairman of RAI’s Northeast Chapter, emphasised the importance of local engagement.
“The true story of retail here is driven by homegrown entrepreneurs. Success takes time—brands must be patient, adaptive, and committed. With rising incomes and growing trust in modern retail, the Northeast is poised to lead in the next five years,” he said.
Raja Gohain, director of MG Solutions, spoke about the need to merge national best practices with local sensibilities.
“We’re building efficient supply chains and integrating digital systems, but also tailoring our approach to local customs and festivals. The goal is to balance scale with personalization,” he said.
Kunal Mordani, Director of Tanishkaa Retails, noted the evolution of consumer behaviour in the region.
“With rising disposable incomes, shoppers now expect quality and convenience. We’re investing in technology, analytics, and flexible logistics—especially quick commerce—to serve even remote areas more effectively,” he added.
The summit was co-powered by Infinity, Go Beyond, with Askaran Binjraj as the Gold Partner.
The Retailers Association of Assam served as Ecosystem Partner, while TRRAIN was the Charity Partner. Storai acted as the Magazine Partner and Replenish as the Digital Marketing Partner.
As per the official statement, NERS 2025 has once again reinforced its role as a catalyst for regional retail development, supporting innovation, partnerships, and inclusive economic growth across Northeast India.
