Odisha CM Majhi Takes Rural Crafts to Bharat Mandapam
Synopsis
For the first time, ORMAS is showcasing products from all 30 Odisha districts at Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, targeting B2B partnerships and export linkages for the state's artisans and rural entrepreneurs under CM Mohan Charan Majhi.
Key Takeaways
ORMAS is participating in Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi for the first time.
Products from all 30 districts of Odisha are being showcased, including handlooms, handicrafts, home décor, spices and food products.
The initiative targets B2B partnerships with national and international buyers, traders and exporters — not just retail sales.
The push is framed under the central government's Vocal for Local campaign, launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi , heading Odisha's first BJP government since June 2024, is driving the state's integration into national rural-marketing circuits.
Thirty districts, one stage. For the first time, Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) is carrying the state's handlooms, handicrafts, spices and food products to the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — putting rural Odisha's artisans in front of national and international buyers, traders and exporters. The Chief Minister's Office of Odisha announced the participation on 13 August 2026, framing it as a signature push under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to translate the 'Vocal for Local' spirit into real market access.
All 30 districts on a single national platform
The breadth of the showcase is the headline. Products from every one of Odisha's 30 districts — spanning handlooms, handicrafts, home décor, accessories, spices and food products — will be displayed under the ORMAS banner. That is a deliberate signal: this is not a curated selection of marquee GI-tagged items but a comprehensive sweep of rural enterprise across the state. The venue, Bharat Mandapam, is the same convention complex in New Delhi that has hosted G20 sessions and major national summits, lending the event considerable visibility.
B2B linkages at the core of the strategy
Unlike consumer-facing craft fairs, the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav is structured around buyer-seller connections — matching producers directly with traders and exporters. ORMAS's participation is therefore aimed squarely at unlocking B2B partnerships and export avenues, not just retail sales. For Odisha's weavers and artisan clusters, that distinction matters: a sustained export order changes livelihoods in a way a weekend fair rarely does. The CMO's post specifically flags 'international buyers' and 'exporters' as target counterparts, pointing to ambitions beyond the domestic market.
Majhi's BJP government and the Atmanirbhar alignment
Mohan Charan Majhi has led Odisha's first BJP government since taking office in June 2024 following the assembly elections. Aligning state rural-marketing initiatives with the Centre's Vocal for Local campaign — launched in 2020 as a pillar of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan — is consistent with that political and policy context. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have run similar artisan-cluster promotions at the national level; Odisha's ORMAS debut at this particular mahotsav marks the state's entry into that competitive circuit.
The real test will come after the exhibition closes: whether B2B conversations at Bharat Mandapam convert into confirmed export orders and lasting market linkages for the artisans and rural entrepreneurs who stocked the stalls.
Point of View
Rather than a consumer fair, suggests a more sophisticated export-promotion intent, though the gap between exhibition presence and actual sustained export orders remains the critical variable. Odisha enters a competitive field where larger artisan-economy states have years of head start; ORMAS's ability to convert Bharat Mandapam visibility into durable buyer relationships will define whether this is a one-off showcase or the start of a structural market shift for the state's rural producers.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ORMAS and what does it do?
ORMAS stands for Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society, a state government body responsible for marketing rural produce and artisan goods from Odisha to broader domestic and international markets.
What is Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026?
Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026 is a national trade event held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, designed to facilitate buyer-seller linkages between producers and national or international buyers, traders and exporters.
Which products from Odisha are being showcased at Bharat Mandapam?
ORMAS is showcasing handlooms, handicrafts, home décor, accessories, spices and food products sourced from all 30 districts of Odisha at the event.
What is the Vocal for Local campaign?
Vocal for Local is a central government initiative launched in 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, aimed at promoting indigenous products, boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing import dependence.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi and when did he become Odisha Chief Minister?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha, having taken office in June 2024 after the BJP won the state assembly elections, forming Odisha's first BJP government.
