RAI Strengthens Regional Retail Ecosystem with 3rd North East Retail Summit

Guwahati, May 27, 2025: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) successfully hosted the 3rd  edition of the North East Retail Summit 2025 (NERS 2025) today in Guwahati, reaffirming its  commitment to unlocking the immense retail potential of India’s North-Eastern region. The  summit continues to serve as a pivotal platform for industry collaboration, innovation, and  strategic dialogue. 

Bringing together retail professionals and thought leaders from across the seven North-Eastern  states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram—the  summit focused on building a cohesive ecosystem to address region-specific challenges and tap  into emerging opportunities. 

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, remarked, “Northeast India is a very  interesting market for the retail industry. The customers in that part of the country are very well  aware of the global trends, are accustomed to multiple languages, and are willing to experiment  with items when they get them. However, the logistics and the supply chain can sometimes be  hindered thanks to various political situations. We believe that it creates a great opportunity for  retailers who want to be there, work with the various service providers and ensure that they are able  to provide a seamless experience for customers in the Northeast. Northeast is also a great place to  find exceptional people who can serve in the retail industry, and that is a great opportunity and we  believe that employment, which is one of the key drivers for retail, can be fulfilled with access to the  Northeast part of the country.” 

The 2025 edition of the summit featured an esteemed line-up of speakers, who deliberated on  topics such as Marketing That Works: Tools, Tactics, and Trust; Business Strategy to Drive Real  Outcomes in Today’s Scenario; and Local and Thriving — What Retail in the Northeast Looks Like  Today. Retail leaders from the region speaking at the summit included, Vikram Bothra – Chandan  Retail (Askaran Binjraj); Kunal Mordani – Tanishkaa Retails; Raja Gohain, Director, MG Solutions  (Times Square); Manish Jain- Gangwal Furniture; Subhash Soni – MNJ, Manik Chand Nand Kishore  Jewellers; and Gaurav Sureka – Maa Kamakhya Retails, Shop N Save; to name a few. 

Vikram Bothra, MD & CEO, Chandan Retail (Askaran Binjraj); Chairman, RAI Northeast  Chapter, said, “The true retail story in the Northeast is on the ground, driven by local entrepreneurs.  We’ve seen incomes rising and communities are more open to modern retail, but success here takes  time. Patience and commitment are essential – brands must earn trust by adapting to local tastes  and persisting through the slow build. Our experience shows that targeted strategies resonating  with regional culture pay off. Yes, infrastructure and market fragmentation are real challenges, but  if retailers stick with it and partner with local players, the rewards will come. I strongly believe the  next five years of retail would belong to Assam and the Northeast. When companies are patient and  collaborate with those on the ground, even logistical hurdles become surmountable.” 

Raja Gohain, Director, MG Solutions (Times Square), said, “We are blending national retail  practices with local consumer patterns. We bring national best practices like efficient supply chains  and digital payment systems, but we adapt them to local tastes and customs. Digital transformation  is changing how Northeast India shops: more consumers are online or using mobile wallets, so we 

are building a robust e‑commerce and tech support to serve them. At the same time, we honour  regional preferences – from festival assortments to local languages in stores. In essence, we merge  scale with personalization. By applying nationwide efficiency while staying sensitive to local  nuances, we can foster growth in the region.” 

Kunal Mordani, Director, Tanishkaa Retails, said, “Northeast consumers are evolving fast. They  have rising disposable incomes and now expect the same quality and convenience as shoppers  elsewhere. This means we must adapt our operations – investing in technology, optimizing our  supply chains, and tailoring assortments for local tastes. For example, the growth of quick commerce  is helping us meet demand in remote areas. We’re using data analytics to forecast demand across  diverse geographies and aligning inventory to festivals and seasons unique to the region. By staying  flexible and customer-centric, we can win in this challenging but high-potential market.” 

As the North-East continues to evolve as a promising retail frontier, NERS 2025 has further  cemented its place as a catalyst for industry growth, partnership-building, and regional  development. The summit was co-powered by Infinity, Go Beyond and the Gold Partner was Askaran Binjraj. The Retailers Association of Assam was the Ecosystem Partner, TRRAIN was  Charity Partner, Storai was Magazine Partner and Replenish was Digital Marketing Partner.