BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 4th February 2026 : Tripura has embraced the Government of India’s flagship One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, with all eight districts participating and showing promising results. The initiative, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local campaigns, aims to identify unique indigenous products from each district, promote them through branding and marketing, and boost regional development, economic growth, and employment opportunities.
Today, a workshop and exhibition was organized at the Hapania International Fairground in Agartala by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce, with support from the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The event facilitated interaction between entrepreneurs and officials, allowing participants to share experiences and challenges.
Speaking at the session, Tripura’s Director of Industries and Commerce, Deepak Kumar, highlighted the growing demand for products from all eight districts, not only across India but also internationally. Tripura’s pineapples, Matabari peda (a dairy sweet), bamboo and cane crafts, and agarwood are particularly sought after. Kumar assured entrepreneurs that dedicated branches would be set up in District Industries Centres (DICs) to support cataloguing, packaging, and marketing. He also announced that work is underway to establish a Unity Mall in Agartala, where ODOP entrepreneurs will be able to set up stalls to sell their products.
Union Commerce Ministry officials also addressed the gathering. Dipangana Singh, in charge of the ODOP division, encouraged not only ODOP-linked entrepreneurs but also members of self-help groups (SHGs) such as Lakhpati Didis to participate in trade fairs across the country. Another official, Ishdeep Singh, noted that similar workshops are being organized nationwide in collaboration with PIB to strengthen the ODOP movement.
Local entrepreneurs shared their success stories. Jayanta Dutta, a Matabari peda producer from Gomati district, said online sales began during the pandemic and have grown significantly since the sweet received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. He announced plans to launch an online sales platform from Bengali New Year. Tapan Das, a bamboo artisan from Sepahijala district, pointed out the need for better packaging solutions to expand online sales of bamboo crafts.
Agarwood entrepreneur Rabindra Chandra Das stressed the importance of improved infrastructure for the agar industry and expressed interest in setting up a factory in Agartala. Farmer Shambhu Debnath highlighted the demand for Tripura’s aromatic rice Kalikhasa in Japan. Bamboo jewelry maker Rupali Sarkar shared how the initiative has made her financially independent. Meanwhile, Lob Chakraborty noted that Tripura’s bamboo products are successfully competing against imports from China and Vietnam.
The exhibition featured stalls showcasing a wide range of ODOP products from across Tripura, underscoring the state’s growing role in India’s push for local entrepreneurship and global market presence.
