Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, May 21, 2026, highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Italy, presented an Eri Silk stole to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a sample of Joha rice to FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu, calling the gesture a reflection of Assam's rising profile on the world stage.

Context

Sarma noted that the Eri Silk stole — gifted to H.E. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy since 2022 — showcases what he described as 'the State's finest weaving traditions.' Eri silk, also called 'peace silk,' is distinctive for being obtained without killing the silkworm, making it an ethically produced textile unique to Assam. Separately, PM Modi presented a sample of Joha rice to Dr. Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), describing it as a small-grain scented variety exclusive to Assam.

Sarma wrote that these gifts 'not only reflect Adarniya Pradhan Mantri Ji's love towards Assam and taking its heritage forward but also the rising influence of Assam in the world stage.' The post was accompanied by 2 images documenting the diplomatic exchanges.

Policy Backdrop

Joha rice received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017, a certification designed to protect its distinct aroma and support cultivators in Assam. The GI status restricts use of the name to produce grown in the designated region, giving farmers a legal and commercial advantage in domestic and export markets.

Eri silk has been promoted since the mid-2010s under central and state handloom schemes as an ethical alternative within India's broader silk sector. Its cruelty-free production process has drawn attention from international buyers increasingly focused on sustainable and humane sourcing. Both products sit within the Act East Policy framework, under which the central government has worked to integrate northeastern states more deeply into India's trade and diplomatic outreach.

Stakeholders and Impact

The most direct beneficiaries of this diplomatic visibility are Assam's Eri silk weavers and Joha rice growers, for whom high-profile placements in bilateral meetings can translate into export inquiries and premium pricing. The FAO, headquartered in Rome, runs programmes on sustainable agriculture and rice heritage that could amplify Joha rice's international profile if the organisation engages further with Indian producers.

Indian prime ministers have increasingly used regionally specific products as diplomatic gifts to project soft power and stimulate demand for GI-tagged goods. Presenting items from the Northeast in particular signals the region's integration into national foreign-policy messaging — a pattern consistent with the Act East framework pursued over the past decade.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the Assam government and central ministries convert this diplomatic moment into concrete commercial outcomes — such as buyer-seller meets, export facilitation, or participation in FAO-linked agricultural events. CM Sarma's post itself functions as part of that effort, amplifying awareness of both products among a domestic and diaspora audience.

If the visibility generated by PM Modi's gifts leads to sustained international demand for Eri silk and Joha rice, it could set a template for other northeastern states seeking to leverage India's diplomatic calendar as a platform for heritage-product promotion.