THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 12, 2026

Odisha’s rich tapestry of traditional craftsmanship and rural enterprise is making a strong national pitch for global markets, with the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) showcasing an expansive range of handlooms, handicrafts, home décor, accessories and food products from all 30 districts of the state at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav (BVM) 2026 here.

Making its debut at the four-day trade and business showcase, ORMAS is using the platform not merely as an exhibition space but as a strategic gateway for Odisha’s rural producers to connect with national and international buyers, explore business-to-business (B2B) opportunities, forge market linkages and tap export avenues.

The Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav is being held from August 12 to 15 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, bringing together businesses and market stakeholders and providing Odisha’s rural producer groups, artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs with an opportunity to take their products to a wider marketplace.

The ORMAS Pavilion was inaugurated by Dr Monica Priyadarshini, Chief Executive Officer, ORMAS, in the presence of the Additional CEO (Finance), ORMAS, and other officials.

The pavilion presents a vibrant cross-section of Odisha’s rural economy, with products sourced from producer groups and entrepreneurs representing all 30 districts. The showcase includes traditional handicrafts and handlooms alongside contemporary home décor, lifestyle accessories, spices and food products, underlining the blend of Odisha’s cultural heritage, indigenous skills and evolving rural entrepreneurship.

ORMAS officials said the organisation’s participation is centred on converting product visibility into concrete commercial opportunities. The initiative seeks to facilitate direct engagement between Odisha’s rural producers and buyers, traders, exporters and other business stakeholders, while opening avenues for networking, partnerships and long-term market expansion.

The participation also assumes significance in the backdrop of ORMAS’s efforts to take rural products beyond conventional local markets. Earlier, the organisation had established a pop-up store at DLF Avenue, Saket, New Delhi, further strengthening the visibility of Odisha-made products among urban consumers and prospective market partners.

With its first participation in the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav, ORMAS is positioning Odisha’s rural products on a larger commercial canvas, with emphasis on market access, branding, business linkages and export potential. The initiative is expected to provide producer groups, community-based organisations, artisans, weavers and rural entrepreneurs with greater exposure to emerging markets and potential buyers.

The ORMAS pavilion thus serves as both a showcase of Odisha’s distinctive craftsmanship and a business platform aimed at creating new commercial possibilities for rural producers. From traditional textiles and crafts to value-added food products, the display reflects the diversity and entrepreneurial energy embedded in the state’s rural economy.

The Mahotsav will remain open to business delegates from 10 am to 7 pm, while general visitors can access the exhibition from 3 pm to 7 pm.

ORMAS’s first-time participation marks another step in the state’s efforts to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and integrate grassroots producers with larger domestic and international markets. Through such platforms, the organisation is seeking to turn Odisha’s traditional skills and locally rooted enterprises into sustainable sources of livelihood, market access and business growth.