ZHEP showcased Maharashtra products at Namaste Bharat 2026
The Indian High Commissioner Dr Shilpak Ambule welcomed and applauded India’s all women entrepreneur delegation from Maharashtra’s participation in an international exhibition, Namaste Bharat 2026, noting their aim to build business network in Singapore and the wider Asian region.
“Singapore is a high-value market, and you can actually promote your products here,” Ambule told the 50-strong women delegation from Maharashtra NGO ZHEP which has the tagline “Leap of Women Entrepreneurship”. ZHEP gathered talented craft makers from across districts of the state’s districts, who are the centre of attraction at Namaste Bharat, held Oct 22-25.
Addressing the exhibition’s inauguration on 23 Oct, the envoy called on the visitors to help promote the 50 women entrepreneurs who has come together from different districts of Maharashtra to showcase their products. “I urge each and every one of you to visit their display store because these people have come from small towns in Maharashtra to display their own traditions and arts at the exhibition.”
Noting the delegation entry into Singapore and the wider Asian markets, he underlined purchasing power of the multinational people of Singapore and the business-focused island state’s network across Asian markets.
The High Commissioner pointed out that Singapore is looking at promoting trade network with different states of India, not only Delhi, Mumbai and metros, but different parts of India to build business ties. “And that effort is on, both from the Singapore side and from the India side.”
He underlined the High Commission’s ongoing efforts to help Singapore businesses reach entrepreneurs in Indian states.
Leading the delegation, Pournnima Shirishkar, the voice of Women Empowerment and the driving force behind ZHEP Udyogininchi, said the group would be interacting with the local community and businesses for promoting handicraft, traditional food, textile product, jewellery and authentic millet products.
“We are looking for opportunities in Singapore especially connecting with retailers and wholesalers,” Press Trust of India rerported quoting Shirishkar from the inauguration of the exhibition.
The group, a first delegation from the 750,000-woman connected ZHEP, had gone through one year of preparation for participation in the “Namaste Bharat 2026”.
After the inaugural Singapore visit, the ZHEP entrepreneurs are scheduled to attend a similar fair in Milan, Italy, Dec 5 to 12, 2026. Some of these trade promotion visits are subsidized by the Maharashtra government and some by both the state and central governments, according to Shirishkar.
Around 150 exhibitors from different parts of India, from remote villages, cities, are part of the exhibition, added show organiser De Ideaz founder Purnima Kamath. “These are not traders. These are actual authentic manufacturers who produce handcrafted goods,” she said.
More than 10,000 visitors attended the four-day exhibition.
Kamath said the exhibition would also help Indian artisans, small businesses and women entrepreneurs reach consumers and potential business partners, as the platform aims to strengthen Singapore-India business and cultural ties. Fiinews.com
