The Annual Survey 2019-20 for Direct Selling in India released on Thursday showed that the Direct Selling Industry of the Northeast region of India touched Rs 1621 crore in FY 2019-20, accounting for 9.66 per cent market share, highlighting the immense potential and scope of growth that the Northeastern region of India has as a market.
The North East Direct Selling Expo anchored by the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) brought together an array of Direct Selling Industry Leaders, Market Experts and Direct Sellers from the Northeast market and Assam’s Policy Establishment, stated a release issued by the IDSA.
As per the survey commissioned by the IDSA, Assam alone accounted for Rs 771.6 crore which translates to 47.59 per cent of the total revenue of the Northeast India market, or 4.59 per cent of gross national direct selling revenue, placing Assam at Number 9 in the pecking order, IDSA stated.
Further, Direct Selling Industry in Assam has contributed in excess of Rs 100 crore in taxes to the state exchequer, it mentioned. This industry provides livelihoods to 200,000 people in Assam, and another 1,60,000 Direct Sellers in the remaining states in NE. To put things in perspective, The Indian Direct Selling industry was valued at Rs 16,776 crore in 2019-20 as compared to Rs 13,080 crore in 2018-19, it further stated. India registered the highest year-on-year growth rate of 28 per cent, making it the fastest growing direct selling market amongst the top 20 direct selling countries globally, it added.
The North East Direct Selling Expo – the first ever such effort in the country, saw wide-ranging discussions with stakeholders, and included a specialist session dedicated to women direct sellers titled ‘Direct Selling – The Torch Bearer of Women’s Empowerment,’ it mentioned.
This session focused on the rising contribution of women direct sellers both in terms of revenue contribution and deeper outreach and penetration of the market, in the Northeast region of India.
A second panel discussion session titled ‘New age Micro-Entrepreneurship options’ was held to display and showcase the opportunities at entrepreneurship and micro -entrepreneurship that was available to the incoming young professionals of the new generation, it further stated.
Speaking on this occasion, IDSA chairman Rajat Banerji said, “The Indian Direct Selling Association is keen to deepen and widen its presence in the seven sisters, not just because of the very promising numbers that the Direct Selling Survey report has thrown up but by the energy, vigour and passionate drive shown by the direct sellers of the marketplace. The Northeastern States of India have been one of the best-kept secrets of the Direct Selling industry, which is reflected in the steady growth and revenues.”
It further stated that the Direct Selling industry has been providing sustainable self-employment and start-up opportunities to millions of people in the country including the state of Assam and for the Northeastern Region. Direct Selling has also become a significant source of income, especially for the youth and women in the state, it added.
The Indian Direct Selling Association IDSA is an autonomous, self-regulatory body for the direct selling industry in India. The Association acts as an interface between the industry and policy-making bodies of the Government facilitating the cause of the Direct Selling Industry in India.
