The Retailers Association of India successfully hosted the fourth edition of the North East Retail Summit 2026 in Guwahati, bringing together leading retail professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders to discuss growth, expansion, and evolving consumer behaviour across the region.
The summit has emerged as a key platform for dialogue on strengthening the retail ecosystem across the seven North-Eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Discussions focused on regional market dynamics, localisation strategies, and opportunities for organised retail expansion.
Speaking at the summit, Kumar Rajagopalan, Executive Director and CEO of Retailers Association of India, highlighted the Northeast as a rapidly evolving consumption market with strong e-retail penetration and distinct consumer preferences shaped by global influences and local diversity.
Industry leaders including Vikram Bothra, MD & CEO, Chandan Retail (Askaran Binjraj) and Chairperson of the RAI North East Chapter, and Siddharth Jalan, Managing Director, Sohum Shoppe, shared insights on rising consumer confidence, changing aspirations, and the growing relevance of Korean and East Asian lifestyle influences in the region.
Speakers across sessions addressed key themes such as multi-market retail strategies, unit economics, community trust in retail, and evolving consumer identity in the Northeast. The summit also featured participation from leaders across retail, real estate, and brand ecosystems, reinforcing the region’s growing importance in India’s retail landscape.
The event was co-powered by Infinity, with Askaran Binjraj and Soham as Gold Partners. The Retailers Association of Assam served as Ecosystem Partner, TRRAIN as Charity Partner, Storai as Magazine Partner, and Replenish as Digital Marketing Partner.
