CWBTA Hosts Grand Launch Seminar for GI Connect Trade Fair 2026

• As Reported by Adrija Dasgupta Kolkata correspondent TFT
• Date of visit 17th Feb 2026
The CONFEDRATION OF WEST BENGAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS (CWBTA) today organised a high-profile launch seminar to formally announce the GI Connect Trade Fair-cum-Buyer Seller Meet 2026, which will be held on May 28, 29 and 30, 2026. The seminar marked an important step toward building national momentum for promoting India’s Geographical Indication products and strengthening their presence in domestic and global markets.
The programme began on an auspicious and spiritual note with Ganesh Vandana and Hanuman Vandana, creating a dignified opening for the proceedings. The event received an enthusiastic response, with more than 800 students, trade representatives, exporters, industry leaders, and institutional stakeholders in attendance, highlighting the growing interest in the GI sector and its trade potential.
The seminar was formally inaugurated through the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Shri Sunil Singhi, Chairman of the National Traders Welfare Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. In his address, he emphasised the importance of strengthening market access, branding, and export linkages for India’s traditional and GI-certified products, and appreciated the initiative taken by CWBTA to create a structured national platform for this purpose.
The event was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including CWBTA President Shri Sushil Poddar, Dr Smita Shah, and GI Connect Convenor Shri N.K. Kapadia, Shri Pradeep Luhariwala, Co-Convenor, Shri B.K. Sancheti, Shri Vibhor Tandon, Shri Arun Garodia, Shri Arvind Pandey from Adamas University and Shri Sumit Das, along with representatives from trade bodies, academia and industry.
A major highlight of the seminar was a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring eminent speakers from diverse professional backgrounds. The discussion brought together Dr. Chaitali Das, noted jute revivalist and founder of Rakshak Foundation, entrepreneur and global trade professional Mr. Akshay Binjrajka, Mr. Sumit Dasgupta, Director of Industry Promotion and Collaboration at Adamas University, Mr. Sitakanta Mandal, Regional Head of APEDA for the Eastern Region under the Ministry of Commerce, corporate HR leader Mr. Saswata Mukherjee, and Dr. Bidhan Das from the Indian Institute of Packaging. The panel deliberated on the future of India’s GI ecosystem, emphasising the need for stronger branding strategies, improved packaging standards, export preparedness, institutional coordination and better buyer outreach to unlock the full commercial potential of GI products.
The organisers stated that the GI Connect Trade Fair 2026 is being designed as a comprehensive national platform that will showcase India’s rich GI heritage, facilitate structured buyer-seller interaction, encourage participation from exporters and international sourcing agencies, and open new trade and export opportunities for producers, artisans, farmer groups and enterprises linked to GI products.
The seminar concluded with a strong sense of purpose and optimism, with organisers expressing confidence that GI Connect 2026 will emerge as a landmark initiative in connecting India’s heritage products with global markets and strengthening the overall ecosystem for GI-based trade and promotion.