Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland (WENN) will organise the fifth edition of its flagship WENN Bazaar from October 15 to 17 at Agri Expo, Chümoukedima, under the theme “One Nagaland, One Marketplace– Women Entrepreneurs from Every District.”
The first fully state-wide edition aims to bring women entrepreneurs from all 17 districts under one roof to promote inclusive economic growth and entrepreneurship in the state.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, WENN chairwoman Temsusenla Kichu said the bazaar has evolved into a platform that not only facilitates sales but also promotes learning, networking and business development.
She said the initiative began in 2022 as a one-day pilot event at Sky Garden, Chümoukedima. The 2023 edition at CT Square featured 53 participants, including entrepreneurs, MSMEs and financial institutions, generating sales of around Rs. 18 lakh.
In 2024, the event expanded to 75 stalls, attracted over 7,000 visitors and recorded sales of about Rs. 36 lakh.
The 2025 edition grew further with 111 women-led enterprises, over 10,000 visitors, Rs. 70 lakh in sales and support for more than 405 employments. Kichu said the shift to the Agri Expo venue was necessitated by the need for a larger space to accommodate more vendors and ensure representation from all 17 districts. Dedicated district stalls will be set up alongside women-led enterprises dealing in handicrafts, textiles, food and beverages, wellness and artisanal products.
Besides exhibitions and sales, the three-day event will feature workshops and technical sessions on financial management, business governance, branding and digital marketing. It will also include the “Empower Her” programme, marketing and branding workshops, interactive networking zones and a structured Business-to-Business (B2B) meet.
Anticipating a footfall of over 12,000 visitors, she said the bazaar would enhance the visibility of indigenous products, promote Nagaland’s traditional crafts, textiles and cuisine, and uncover new enterprises from under-represented regions.
Launched in April 2022 under GIZ’s Project Her&Now in collaboration with Dhriiti– The Courage Within and IDAN, WENN has grown from a six-member core team into a network of around 3,000 women entrepreneurs across Nagaland. Kichu added that efforts were also underway to establish WENN Bazaar as a state-recognised annual event.